TOPEKA—Chief Judge Oliver Kent Lynch of the 11th Judicial District has been appointed to sit with the Kansas Supreme Court to hear oral arguments in one case on the court's September 13 docket. After hearing oral arguments, Lynch will join Supreme Court justices in their deliberations and decision drafting.
“I am pleased that Chief Judge Lynch is taking time from his duties in the 11th Judicial District to sit with the Supreme Court,” said Chief Justice Lawton Nuss. “It's a great help to our court, and we look forward to his contributions in deliberating and eventually deciding this case.”
Lynch said, “The opportunity to sit with the Supreme Court is exciting and I think will be very educational.”
Lynch has served as a district judge in the 11th Judicial District since 2005 and was appointed chief judge in 2017. The 11th Judicial District is composed of Cherokee, Crawford, and Labette counties.
He is a native of Baxter Springs and graduated from the University of Kansas and the KU School of Law.
Before his appointment to the bench, Lynch was in private practice from 1976 to 2005. He also served as city attorney for Baxter Springs and county attorney and assistant county attorney for Cherokee County.
All Supreme Court oral arguments are webcast live through the Watch Supreme Court Live! Link in the right-hand column of the Kansas judicial branch website at www.kscourts.org.
The case Lynch will hear is the fourth one scheduled on the court's 9 a.m. docket September 13:
Appeal No. 119,012: In the Matter of Jeffrey A. Mason, Respondent
Original Proceeding Related to Attorney Discipline: Mason's ethical issues in this case involve his representation and other corporate matters for the Northwest Kansas Area Medical Foundation, later changed to the Goodland Medical Foundation. Mason failed to file corporate tax returns. The hearing panel recommended Mason be indefinitely suspended retroactive to December 23, 2016, the date of the Supreme Court's previous suspension order. The panel was particularly concerned Mason knew he had engaged in the conduct at issue at the time of the earlier hearing but affirmatively stated during the hearing there were no additional issues in his practice. The disciplinary administrator also recommended indefinite suspension retroactive to December 23, 2016. Mason requests public censure and probation.