TOPEKA—Chief Judge Peggy Carr Kittel will retire December 31 after 19 years of service. She has been chief judge of the 7th Judicial District, which is composed of Douglas County, since 2016.
“It has been my privilege to serve the state of Kansas, and I appreciate the trust and support I have received from the residents of Douglas County,” Kittel said. "It is my hope those who appeared in my court had confidence their cases were heard fairly, impartially, respectfully, and in accordance with the law.”
Kittel, a lifelong Kansan, is originally from Prairie Village. She graduated from the University of Kansas with a business administration degree in 1980 and received her law degree from the University of Kansas School of Law in 1983.
She was assistant district attorney in Wyandotte County from 1983 to 1990 and prosecutor for the city of Olathe in 1987. She then was an assistant district attorney in Douglas County from 1990 to 1996. After practicing law privately from 1996 to 2001, she was named a full-time pro tem district magistrate judge for the 7th Judicial District. She was appointed a district judge in April 2008.
As a judge, she has served on the Kansas Tribal-State Judicial Forum, the Judges Manual Committee, the Douglas County Community Corrections Advisory Board, and the Douglas County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council.
“I will miss my colleagues and all the court staff of the 7th Judicial District,” Kittel said. “It has been an extremely rewarding experience working with these dedicated employees, as well as the attorneys who have appeared before me. I am especially grateful to my husband, my son, and all my family and friends for their support throughout my career.”
District judges in the 7th Judicial District are appointed following a merit selection process. State statute requires a nominating commission to accept nominations, interview nominees, and forward the names of finalists to the governor, who appoints a replacement.
After serving one year in office, the new judge must stand for a retention vote in the next general election to remain in the position. If retained, the incumbent will serve a four-year term.