Kansas District Judges Association elects 2019-20 officers

TOPEKA—The Kansas District Judges Association, an organization open to all state district court judges, has elected officers to serve the organization in the coming year.

Judge Bruce Gatterman was elected president. He is chief judge of the 24th Judicial District, composed of Edwards, Hodgeman, Lane, Ness, Pawnee, and Rush counties.

He has served as district judge and chief judge in the 24th Judicial District since 2003. He has been a member of the Kansas Judicial Council Civil Code Advisory Committee since 2003.

Before becoming a district judge, he served as municipal judge of the city of Larned from 1980 to 2002. He was a partner in the law firm of Martin and Gatterman and was counsel for the Larned and Pawnee Heights school districts while maintaining a general law practice.

Gatterman is a native of Lewis and a longtime resident of Larned. He graduated from Kansas State University and Washburn University School of Law.

Other officers elected:

• Judge Dan Creitz, president-elect. He is chief judge of the 31st Judicial District, composed of Allen, Neosho, Wilson, and Woodson counties.

• Judge Kim Cudney, secretary. She is chief judge of the 12th Judicial District, composed of Cloud, Jewell, Lincoln, Mitchell, Republic, and Washington counties.

• Judge Thomas Kelly Ryan, treasurer. He is chief judge of the 10th Judicial District, composed of Johnson County.

The new officers were elected at a recent statewide continuing education conference for judges conducted in Wichita.

Stepping down as president is Senior Judge James Fleetwood. He retired in June as chief judge of the 18th Judicial District, composed of Sedgwick County. As a senior judge, he works on an as-needed basis in district and appellate courts.