New chief judge appointed for 7th Judicial District

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court has appointed District Judge James McCabria as chief judge of the 7th Judicial District effective from January 1 through December 31, 2021.

McCabria will succeed Chief Judge Peggy Carr Kittel, who will retire December 31.

The 7th Judicial District is composed of Douglas County.

“We are glad that Judge McCabria has agreed to serve as chief judge, providing continuity in capable leadership in the 7th Judicial District,” said Lawton Nuss, chief justice of the Kansas Supreme Court.

McCabria was appointed a district judge in 2014.

“The 7th Judicial District is fortunate to have judges that serve with incredible dedication," McCabria said. "Chief Judge Kittel has done an outstanding job of continuing a tradition of excellent leadership for our district. That I have been selected by the Supreme Court to carry that tradition forward is a most humbling honor.”

McCabria graduated from the University of Tulsa School of Law in 1994. He started his law practice that same year with Hall, Levy, DeVore, Bell, Ott & Kritz P.A. in Coffeyville. In 2000, he moved to Douglas County and opened his law own office. From 2002 to 2006, he was an assistant attorney general for the Kansas Attorney General's Office. From 2007 until becoming a judge, he was an assistant district attorney for the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office.

McCabria currently serves on the Probate Committee of the Kansas Judicial Council.

Each of Kansas’ 31 judicial districts has a chief judge who, in addition to his or her judicial responsibilities, has general control over case assignments within the district, as well as general supervisory authority over the administrative and clerical functions of the court.