Kansas District Magistrate Judges Association elects 2020-21 officers

TOPEKA—District Magistrate Judge Jenifer Ashford was elected president of the Kansas District Magistrate Judges Association.

The organization, open to all state district magistrate court judges, elected officers to serve in the coming year during a virtual conference for judges in October.

Ashford serves in Johnson County of the 10th Judicial District. She previously was first vice president of the association.

"Serving on the association board the previous two years provided me the opportunity to meet and work with judges, court staff, the Governor’s office, and the legislators from across Kansas," Ashford said. "As president, I will continue cultivating these relationships spanning all three branches of government to further efforts to provide equal access to justice for all Kansans.”

Before becoming a judge in 2017, Ashford was a prosecutor for 20 years for Jackson County and St. Louis in Missouri and Johnson County, Shawnee, and Lake Quivira in 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.

Ashford is a member of the American Judges Association, Kansas Bar Association, Johnson County Bar Association, Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, Kansas Women’s Attorney Association, Earl O’Conner Inns of Court, and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. She also serves on the Supreme Court Task Force for Permanency Planning.

As president, she succeeds District Magistrate Judge Marty Clark, who serves in Russell County of the 20th Judicial District. Clark will serve on the executive committee as immediate past-president.

Other officers are:

• District Magistrate Judge Brendon Boone, first vice president. He serves in Gove County of the 23rd Judicial District.   

• District Magistrate Judge Shannon Rush, second vice president. She serves in Osage County of the 4th Judicial District.

• District Magistrate Judge Rustin Martin, third vice president. He serves in Comanche County of the 16th Judicial District.

• District Magistrate Judge Debra Anderson, reelected secretary. She serves in Norton County of the 17th Judicial District.

• District Magistrate Judge Daniel Gilligan, reelected treasurer. He serves in Reno County, which is the 27th Judicial District.

Elected to the board of directors were:

• District Magistrate Judge Robert Scott, who serves in Johnson County of the 10th Judicial District;

• District Magistrate Judge Philip Moore, who serves in Clark County of the 16th Judicial District; and

• District Magistrate Judge Doug Bigge, who serves in Rooks County of the 23rd Judicial District.

The organization also presented service awards:

45 years

• District Magistrate Judge Dennis Reiling, who serves in Jefferson County of the 2nd Judicial District.

20 years

• District Magistrate Judge Timarie Walter, who serves in Stafford County of the 20th Judicial District.

15 years

• District Magistrate Judge Angela Hecke, who serves in Marshall County of the 22nd Judicial District.

• District Magistrate Judge Vernon Butt, who serves in Stanton County of the 26th Judicial District.

• District Magistrate Judge Mark Temaat, who serves in Logan County of the 15th Judicial District.

• District Magistrate Judge Guy Steier, who serves in Cloud County of the 12th Judicial District.

• District Magistrate Judge Richard Hodson, who serves in Kearny County of the 25th Judicial District.

• District Magistrate Judge Paula Sosa, who serves in Stevens County of the 26th Judicial District.

• District Magistrate Judge Michael Kirchhoff, who serves in Smith County of the 17th Judicial District.

• District Magistrate Judge Wade Dixon, who serves in Greeley County of the 25th Judicial District.

10 years

• District Magistrate Judge Daniel Vokins, who serves in Johnson County of the 10th Judicial District.