Chief Judge R. Wayne Lampson to retire

TOPEKA—Chief Judge R. Wayne Lampson of the 29th Judicial District will retire May 4. He has been a district judge since 1995 and chief judge since 2008.

“I have been honored to serve as a judge in Wyandotte County. We have some really great employees who work hard at their jobs and who have given me their support and encouragement for many years,” Lampson said. “I have especially appreciated the opportunity to serve as chief judge for the district. This position has not only allowed me to work closely with the great group of judges in my district but to develop relationships with many of the judges across Kansas.”

Lampson presides over cases in Wyandotte County. In addition to his judicial responsibilities, as chief judge he has general control over case assignments to the other judges in the district and general supervisory authority over about 130 administrative and clerical employees of the court.

Lampson, who was born in Winfield and raised on a farm in Chautauqua County, graduated from Emporia State University and the University of Tulsa School of Law. He moved to the Kansas City area to work as an assistant district attorney. He then was in private practice with Lugar & Whitaker and later with Lugar, Harris & Lampson. In 1987 he began work with the legal department of the city of Kansas City, Kansas, and subsequently was appointed county counselor for the Wyandotte County Commission. He served in that position until he was appointed to the bench. He has been re-elected every four years since 1996.

Lampson and his wife, Donna, will to retire to the Palm Springs, California, area. He plans to write children’s books and play bocce ball and golf.