TOPEKA—Judge Rachel Pickering will be sworn in as judge on the Kansas Court of Appeals at 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 27 before an invited audience in the Supreme Court courtroom in the Kansas Judicial Center, Topeka.
Judge Pickering will be the first Hispanic to serve on the Court of Appeals, and her addition to the court will shift its makeup to eight women and six men. Previously, the court was composed of an equal number of men and women.
Chief Judge Karen Arnold-Burger of the Court of Appeals will preside over the swearing in ceremony. Judge Pickering will be introduced by Topeka attorney Nicole Revenaugh, a friend, and her brother, Phil Corrigan.
The public can access a live webcast of the ceremony on the Kansas Supreme Court YouTube channel at www.YouTube.com/KansasSupremeCourt.
Judge Pickering lives in Topeka with her husband, Jeff, and their son, Mark.
Choosing a career in law
Judge Pickering, who was born fifth in a line of ten children, grew up hearing stories about her paternal grandfather, William Corrigan, a prominent trial attorney in Cleveland, Ohio. These stories were one source of inspiration for her and her three older brothers to become attorneys.
She said her mother, whose parents came from Mexico, also instilled in her a high regard for the American judicial system and the rule of law.
“My mother would always stress to us how fortunate we were to live in a country with a strong and fair judicial system,” Judge Pickering said. “The historic nature of this appointment is not lost on me. I continue to think of my mother’s words about how proud we should be to live in a country that offers so many opportunities.”
On becoming a Court of Appeals judge
Gov. Laura Kelly appointed Judge Pickering to the Court of Appeals in August 2022 to fill a vacancy created when Judge Anthony Powell retired. Her appointment was unanimously confirmed by the Kansas Senate on January 19, 2023.
Judge Pickering said she’s grateful to continue serving the people of Kansas in her new role.
“I am honored I can continue to work hard in my service to the people of Kansas,” she said. “As a district court judge, I strove to follow the law in a fair and impartial manner, and I will work to do the same as a Court of Appeals judge.”
She said she also looks forward to traveling with the court. Three-judge panels travel each month for dockets in Kansas City and Wichita and, as opportunities arise, to other communities.
“Our panels are hearing a wide variety of cases that affect Kansans,” she said. “I’m glad we travel to communities so that Kansans can see their Court of Appeals at work.”
Professional background
Before she became a lawyer, Judge Pickering completed a paralegal certificate and began working as an international paralegal at Howell and Haferkamp, a St. Louis intellectual property boutique firm.
Later, she attended law school at the University of Missouri-Columbia and received her juris doctorate and a certificate in e-commerce and intellectual property.
In her third year of law school, she took classes at the University of Kansas School of Law while clerking at Hovey Williams, a law firm in Kansas City. On completing her law degree, she began as an associate attorney with Hovey Williams.
When her son was born, Judge Pickering stepped away from her law practice temporarily to be home with him. When she returned to work, she chose to practice in criminal law in Topeka. She worked at both the Appellate Defender Office and the Third Judicial District Public Defender Office. Later, she became assistant district attorney in the Shawnee County District Attorney’s Office.
In 2019, she was serving as assistant solicitor general in the Kansas Attorney General’s Office under then-Attorney General Derek Schmidt when she was appointed district court judge in the Third Judicial District. She remained with the Third Judicial District until her confirmation to the Court of Appeals.
Retention elections
After a new judge serves one year on the court, they must stand for a retention vote in the next general election to remain in the position. If retained, the judge serves a four-year term.