LWVUS 2010 national convention
Ten delegates from Kansas attended the
in Atlanta, GA. A photo essay of the
event includes coverage of the
Quest for a More Diverse Judiciary workshop and judiciary speakers.
Kansas Judicial Branch: A six-member commission is responsible for submitting the names of two or three
nominees to the Kansas Governor for the vacancy which will be created when Shawnee County District
Judge Jan Leuenberger retires effective August 2. He has been a district judge since October 1995. This vacancy
is in the 3rd Judicial District has issued a request for assistance from the public. A news release was issued
June 14, 2010. http://www.kscourts.org/Kansas-Courts/General-Information/news-releases.asp#061410
See PHOTO: Currently, it looks as though there are
only 3 women out of 11 judges on the Kansas Court
of
Appeals bench. See
http://www.kscourts.org/kansas-courts/court-of-appeals/judge-bios/default.asp
The Supreme Court Nominating Commission nominated three persons to fill a vacancy on the Court of
Appeals that was created by the April death of Judge Jerry G. Elliott, Lawrence. If Gov. Parkinson should choose
the woman nominee, it would add a fourth woman to the appeals court bench.
http://www.kscourts.org/Kansas-Courts/General-Information/news-releases.asp#052810
LWV-Topeka & Shawnee County: Topeka Public Schools
Having heard from at least three speakers on the quest for a diverse judiciary topic that part of the answer
for recruiting minority members to the practice of law, and perhaps eventually to the bench, is starting early,
possibly as early as junior high, Topeka/Shawnee County League President, Gwen Elliott, decided to take the
message to her fellow school social workers at Topeka Public Schools, which has by far the highest student
minority representation of the five districts in the Shawnee County. With permission from the coordinator,
Gwen gave a presentation on the judicial diversity project to the entire school social work department,
including workers from all levels of instruction from preschool through high school, on May 20, 2010.
They received the information and the packets with great enthusiasm as reaching minority students is always
a goal of school social workers. In all, Gwen distributed 33 packets to school employees, their contacts, and
spouses, one of whom is a practicing attorney who has minority status, and another of whom is an attorney
who does research for the Kansas Supreme Court and the Kansas Court of Appeals.
LWV-Johnson County, Annual Meeting Saturday, May 1, Atonement Lutheran Church – 9948 Metcalf
LAW DAY, 9 – 10:30 a.m. – Annual Meeting; 10:30 a.m. – Brunch and Awards
Special Presentations: LWV Essay Scholarship Award recipient
Jenna Gottschalk read her winning essay.
“Making Democracy Work” Award to recipient:
U.S. Congressman Dennis Moore
who spoke on
“Civility and Citizenship.”
LWV-Topeka & Shawnee County: Tuesday Topics, May 4, 2010
Speaker was
Mark Dupree, Johnson County, KS, Assistant Public Defender, is a member of the Kansas Bar Association's Diversity Committee
LWVK Council, May 1, 2010, Manhattan, Kansas.
Manhattan: Radio programming —On the April 29, 2010, "Community Bridge," alternative
radio for the Manhattan, Kansas, area offered Jean Lee of the LWV-Manhattan/Riley County, along with
attorney Gabrielle Thompson Prof. John Fliter from K-State discussing the Leagues's Safeguarding U.S.
Democracy: A Quest for a More
and Diverse Judiciary education program. This audio program is available here
for review.
Emporia: Law Day at Colonial Ballroom, Emporia State University, April 29, 2010. Keynote
speaker was
James M Concannon, Distinguished Professor of Law, Washburn Law School. Panelists were
Dr. Barbara Baker, Director of Multicultural Affairs, E.S.U.; Kenneth Buchele, Citizen Member of Judicial
Nominating Committee; and Deborah Huth, President of Lyon/Chase County Bar Association.
Salina: Annual Meeting was held on April 14, 2010, featuring Judge Eric Rosen,
Kansas
Supreme Court. This event was held
in the dining hall, Stevens Center, St. John's Military School, Salina.
Eric Rosen was
born in Topeka in 1953. He has a Bachelors and Masters Degree with
honors
from Kansas University. His law degree is from
Washburn Univeristy in 1984. Before becoming a judge,
he
worked in both the District Attorney's and the
Public Defender's offices in Shawnee County, served as
Associate General Counsel for the Kansas Securities
Commissioner and was a partner in the law firm of
Hein, Ebert and Rosen. He served 12 years as a Shawnee
County district judge before being appointed to
the Supreme Court in 2005. He has also served on the Kansas
Sentencing Commission. He received the
Attorney General's Victim Service Award for Outstanding Judge as well
as many other awards and honors,
and serves in many community organizations. His full biography is on-line .
LWV Topeka and Shawnee County president Gwen Elliott spoke
with a group of United
Methodist Women, some of whom are active at the Methodist Conference level, about Judicial Diverity on
Wednesday, April 16, 2010, at Crestview United Methodist Church, Topeka. Attendees enjoyed their
"Safeguarding U.S. Democracy" tote bags.
Saline: Annual Meeting on April 14, 2010,
featuring Kansas Judge Eric Rosen, KS Supreme Court.
Salina: Judicial Diversity Forum at Kansas Wesleyan Unviersity on March 25, 2010, featured
Magistrate Judge Sheila Hochhauser, Court of Appeals Judge Henry Green, Jr.,
Supreme Court Justice Carol Beier,
and moderator Ann Zimmerman. 3-25-2010
Judicial Diversity Forum at KWU Thursday —KSAL Link.com 3-25-2010
KS Supreme Court justice to join panel discussion on diversity ... Fox Network, Kansas City, Channel 4 3-23-2010
The Salina League of Women Voters is sponsoring the event Thursday evening at Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina. Luckert is the second woman to serve on ...
Judges to discuss diversity in Kan. court system —Nebraska ABC TV, Channel 4
The Salina League of Women Voters is sponsoring the event Thursday evening ... The panelists will discuss their careers and their views on judicial diversity. 3-23-2010
Internet Links:
Kansas Judicial Branch : Supreme Court | Court of Appeals | District Courts | Court Structure Chart
National Center for State Courts: Judicial Salary Resource Center (KANSAS) http://www.ncsconline.org/D_KIS/Salary_Survey/state_inc.asp?STATE=KS
Wichita Eagle editorial opinion,
“Courts need more women judges,” Friday, March 12, 2010, — For the editorial board, Rhonda Holman. Article mentions LWV-Wichita Metro.
Mary Knecht coordinated the project with newspaper editorial staff. 3-12-2010
Wichita: FORUM featureed
Judge Karen Humphreys, Chief Magistrate Judge for the US District Court of Kansas, discussing judicial diversity. Discussion & Reception followed.
Thurs., March 4, 2010, 7:00 p.m., 20th Century Club Auditorium and Parlor, Murdock Theatre
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League of Women Voters-Salina President Ann Zimmerman addressed the Salina City Commission and the Saline County Commission, making statements about the League's 90th birthday (officially, February 14, 2010) and the Kansas Judicial Diversity Project. League members also served the commissioners cake. —Ann Zimmerman,3/1/2010 |
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Topeka letter-to-the-editor: Judicial diversity,
Topeka Capital-Journal, Sunday, February 27, 2010, written by Gwen Elliott, President of LWV-TSC.
2-29-2010
League of Women Voters Wichita-Metro held their first Book Club Discussion on Tuesday, February 23, 2010, at the Rockwell Branch of the Library. At least 30 passionate people attended. Dr. Daisy Karagarama lead the discussion. Several people mentioned joining the League of Women Voters, and all were given the Events schedule and invited to the March 4 th presentation by Chief Magistrate Judge Karen Humphreys at the Twentieth Century Club Murdock Theater on North Broadway. —Pat MacDonald,2/28/2010
—from President Ann Zimmerman, LWV-Salina 2-22-2010
Salina: 90th LWV Birthday proclamation:
“ The Salina LWV is here today to celebrate the 90 th birthday of the LWV. The National LWV began in 1920, the same year that women won the right to vote in national elections. That same year, Kansas was...” —Read more
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League of Women Voters-Lawrence celebrated the League's 90th Birthday on February 18, 2010, with a reception at the
Castle Tea Room, 1307 Massachusetts, Lawrence. Honored guests included
Douglas Co. Nominating Commission, County Commissioners, and Douglas County District Judges. |
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LWVK celebrates the 90th birthday of LWV at the State Capitol. League leaders from across Kansas helped celebrate the 90th birthday of League at the Kansas State Capitol on Wed., February 17, 2010. Celebration included a visit with Mark Parkinson, Governor of Kansas.
LWV-Salina celebrated the 90th birthday of LWV on February 22, 2010, with birthday cake and a statement about the Judicial Diversity Project to the joint meeting of the Salina City Commission and the Saline County Commission. -Ann Zimmerman President, LWV-Salina, presided.
—from Co President Candy Birch, Johnson County 1-28-2010
Comments to the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners “ The League of Women Voters of Johnson County is here today on a particular mission. You may recall getting an invitation last October to attend a program called
Safeguarding U.S. Democracy: The Quest for a More Diverse Judiciary . That event marked the beginning of a two-year state-wide effort to draw attention to the diversity (or lack thereof) in our judicial system and to advocate for increased diversity. To that end…
” —Read more
—from Ann Zimmerman, President, LWV-Salina
Salina Program Planning Meeting, at which we spent most of the time making our Judicial Diversity plans.
[Choose a thumbnail to see the larger photo.] 2-2-2010 
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November 9, 2009
Dear Ms. Arguedas:
I am pleased to report that I have heard nothing but extremely positive comments following the League of Women Voters Kansas League Day Program on October 17. As you are aware, there were members of the Kansas Supreme Court, Court staff, and district judges present. I look forward to the other events that you will be holding in 2010, and hope that my schedule will permit me to attend at least some of them.
I share in your "quest for a more diverse judiciary," and I thank you very much for your continued educational and advocacy efforts.
Sincerely,
Robert E. Davis
Chief Justice |
Safeguarding U.S. Democracy: The Quest for a More Diverse Judiciary
A Judiciary Forum, open to the public, was kick-off event on the Diverse Judiciary issue. The forum was held in Topeka, KS, on Saturday, October 17, 2009. The forum featured the Honorable Rebecca Love Kourlis, Executive Director of the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System. Together the League of Women Voters of Kansas and eight local Leagues ( League of Women Voters of Kansas, Emporia, Great Bend, Johnson County, Lawrence/Douglas County, Manhattan/Riley County, Salina, Topeka, and Wichita) focused on the question: “Does the Kansas Judiciary reflect the diversity of our state? If not, why not?”
This
audio podcast (59 minutes) features
Hon. Rebecca Kourlis, Executive Director of the Institute for the Advancement of the Legal System. Hon. Kourlis spoke at the Kansas League of Women Voters forum:
"Does the Kansas Judiciary Reflect the Diversity of our State? If Not, Why Not?" held on 17 October 2009 in Topeka, KS. The forum was the opening of a two-year League project focusing on promoting diversity at all levels of the state judiciary and enhancing the legitimacy of our system of justice in the eyes of an increasingly diverse public. Rebecca Love Kourlis was appointed to the Colorado Supreme Court in 1985 and resigned in 2006 after serving for 11 years. Kourlis authored of more than 200 opinions and dissents during her tenure and spearheaded significant reforms in the court system relating to juries, family law and attorney regulation.
MP3 File 11-23-2009
League of Women Voters®
Media Coverage
