Johnson County district magistrate judge receives statewide award

TOPEKA—District Magistrate Judge Jenifer Ashford of Johnson County received the Lee Nusser Award for Outstanding Magistrate Judge of 2022. 

The Kansas District Magistrate Judges Association presented the award to Ashford at its annual meeting in October. 

Ashford serves in the 10th Judicial District, which is Johnson County. 

"I am truly honored to receive this award," Ashford said. “It was a privilege to serve as president the last two years, and I look forward to continuing to work with Judge Boone and the association’s executive board.”

Judge Brendon Boone, the association’s current president, presented the award to Ashford. Boone serves in Gove County of the 23rd Judicial District. 

"This award is given annually to a judge who demonstrates outstanding achievement supporting and enhancing the position of Kansas district magistrate judges and the association, who supports and enhances the role of the Kansas judiciary, and who displays the dignity and integrity of the position,” Boone said. “Judge Ashford excelled in all three requirements and none are more deserving of this award than she is.”

Ashford served as president of the Kansas District Magistrate Judges Association from 2020-2022 and on the association’s board from 2018-2020. As president, she helped the association navigate pandemic challenges and make adjustments to continue to provide access to justice.

Before becoming a judge in 2017, Ashford was a prosecutor for 20 years in Missouri and Kansas. 

Ashford grew up on a farm near Summerfield in Marshall County and graduated from Marysville High School. She received a bachelor's degree from Kansas State University and a law degree from the University of Kansas School of Law. 

The Kansas District Magistrate Judges Association award is named for Judge Lee Nusser, who served as a district magistrate judge in Stafford County from 1976 to 1999. He died in 2003.