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District Judge Neil FothTOPEKA—On June 11, District Judge Neil Foth will take his seat in the Court of Appeals courtroom, wearing the same robe and hearing cases from behind the same bench as his father did more than three decades ago.

Foth is a district judge in the 10th Judicial District, which is composed of Johnson County. His father, J. Richard Foth, was among the first judges appointed in 1977 to the newly reestablished Court of Appeals, and he went on to serve as chief judge from 1978 until his death in 1985.

Chief Judge Karen Arnold-Burger of the Court of Appeals appointed Foth to sit on a three-judge panel to hear six appeals.

"This is a unique circumstance," Foth said. "I attended the inaugural ceremonies for the new Court of Appeals, in the new Judicial Center, as a high school senior in 1977. I still wear my dad's robe from that time, so it will return to the courtroom it once presided over."

Foth followed in his father's footsteps, earning a law degree and eventually being named a judge. "

But I never thought I would follow him this closely," he said.

Arnold-Burger said the Court of Appeals often asks district judges to sit with appellate judges.

"It is a great learning opportunity for the district judge, and it helps us out when our judges have a conflict or are otherwise unavailable. We are particularly proud to have Judge Foth sit with us this month, since his father was one of the original members of the Court of Appeals. His legacy lives on with the court, and it is an honor to have his son sit with us.”

Since becoming a judge in January 2009, Foth has heard family court and child in need of care cases in his Olathe courtroom. He previously worked three years for the Topeka Public Defender's Office and was in private practice for 22 years.

On June 11, he will hear cases with Court of Appeals Judges Stephen Hill and Melissa Taylor Standridge.

"I was very honored when Chief Judge Arnold-Burger asked me to sit with the Court of Appeals, and I hope I can help the court with its heavy dockets. My only goal is to be useful to Judge Hill and Judge Standridge," Foth said.

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