TOPEKA—A 38-year veteran of Butler County District Court will call to order the Kansas Supreme Court's special session in El Dorado.
Janell Jessup, who is clerk of the district court in Butler County, will be the honorary bailiff for the special session. She has worked for the Kansas judicial branch since 1981 in a variety of jobs, and she wouldn't have it any other way.
"I just love the court system," she said. "The law is an important part of the public service that state employees do."
The Supreme Court will conduct its special evening session October 7 at El Dorado High School as part of its ongoing outreach to familiarize Kansans with the high court, its work, and the overall role of the Kansas judiciary.
Chief Judge David Ricke of the 13th Judicial District nominated Jessup to be the honorary bailiff. She has been clerk of Butler County District Court since 2003.
Ricke said Jessup has "exemplary knowledge of the scope, duties, and responsibilities of the clerk of the district court’s office." He noted she is the longest-serving current employee of the 13th Judicial District, which is composed of Butler, Elk, and Greenwood counties.
"Janell has extraordinary dedication, which she maintains day-to-day, week-to-week, and year-to-year," Ricke said. "Quite simply, she has earned the honor of being the honorary bailiff by her hard work, reliability, and determination."
Jessup began working for the district court as a secretary for court services. She then became a court transcriptionist and also worked as a courtroom bailiff.
On top of her day job, she is a volunteer first responder for Butler County Emergency Management. She leads a team of volunteers who are trained to help animals during an emergency.
"We're often the first ones on the scene to help animals," she said. She's in the process of completing training to become certified as an emergency medical responder so that she also can help people at the scene of an emergency.
Jessup's enthusiasm for her work, whether it's paid or volunteer, is readily apparent.
"I just love Butler County, and I give however I can, whether it's through my day job or my volunteer work," she said.
As honorary bailiff, Jessup will call to order the audience assembled at El Dorado High School, and then the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in two cases.