TOPEKA—For 30 years, Molly Kujawa has focused on every word during court proceedings.
But as honorary bailiff for the Kansas Supreme Court's special session Monday in Manhattan, she finally will have a chance to relax.
Kujawa (pronounced kee-AH-vah) has been a court reporter for Riley County District Court since 1988. Her job—to produce a verbatim record of each court proceeding—requires paying close attention to everything that is said.
As honorary bailiff, she will call to order the audience assembled for the special session. And then she can sit down and watch—without transcribing every word.
Kujawa has been the court reporter for Chief Judge Meryl Wilson since 1997. Wilson recommended her to open the special session, which begins at 6:30 p.m. Monday, September 24, in the auditorium of Manhattan High School, 2100 Poyntz Ave.
Chief Justice Lawton Nuss and the other justices of the Kansas Supreme Court made the final selection of the honorary bailiff.
"I recommended Molly for many reasons, but she has been a dedicated employee of the 21st Judicial District for over 30 years as a court reporter," Wilson said. "Every morning starts with a smile."
Kujawa says that's because she enjoys what she does.
"I like the challenge. Every day is different," she said. "And now that Judge Wilson is doing more criminal cases, I enjoy that more. They are more fast-paced and interesting to be a part of."
Interesting or not, each proceeding is important, and Kujawa has a key role to play.
"We produce a clean record of the proceedings—I take that part very seriously. People's lives are involved," she said.
After graduating from high school, Kujawa said she wasn't interested in spending four years in college.
"Brown Mackie College in Salina had a two-year court reporting program," she said, and she enrolled.
"It's been a great career for me," she said. "The growth within our judicial district has caused caseloads to increase every year, and as a result I am busier than I have ever been."
Kujawa said she's proud of her three-decade career and of the court system.
"Judges work hard to make sure people's rights are protected. They put in a lot of long hours," she said. "And court employees are dedicated. They are entrusted with very important cases."
The Supreme Court will be in session from 6:30 p.m. to about 8 p.m. Monday, September 24 in the auditorium of Manhattan High School, 2100 Poyntz Ave. The court will hear arguments in two cases. After the session concludes, the justices will greet the public in an informal reception outside the auditorium.
Manhattan High School is the court’s 16th destination since 2011, when it first convened outside of the Kansas Judicial Center to mark the state's 150th anniversary.