District Magistrate Judge Ross McIlvain to retire July 4 after 15 years of service

TOPEKA—District Magistrate Judge Ross McIlvain will retire July 4 after 15 years of service.

McIlvain, who serves in Greenwood County of the 13th Judicial District, was first elected magistrate judge in 1988 and served eight years. He returned to private practice but then was appointed to fill an unexpired term as magistrate judge. He was elected to a four-year term in 2012 and re-elected in 2016.

The 13th Judicial District is composed of Greenwood, Butler, and Elk counties. McIlvain's main office has been in Eureka, but he also has held court in El Dorado two days a week.

McIlvain was county attorney in Greenwood County for nine years and municipal judge for the city of Madison.

He attended West Point and the University of Kansas as an undergraduate and earned a law degree from the University of Kansas School of Law in 1982.

McIlvain said he plans to spend most of the summer mountain climbing and hiking in the Cascades, then return to private practice with his wife, Karen McIlvain, in late September. He also plans to spend more time with their grandchildren.

“It has been an honor to serve the residents of this district.” McIlvain said, “I thank you all.”

District magistrate judges in the 13th Judicial District are elected by partisan ballot. State statute requires the governor to select a replacement to complete a vacated term of office.