Judge Rachel Pickering is the first Hispanic to serve on the Court of Appeals. She comes to the Court following service as a district court judge in Kansas’ 3rd Judicial District. Prior to joining the bench, she was assistant solicitor general in the Attorney General's Office and assistant district attorney in Shawnee County. She also spent a decade in criminal defense, both at the appellate and trial levels. She specialized in intellectual property earlier in her career. She earned her law degree from the University of Missouri School of Law in 2003, with a certificate in e-commerce and intellectual property. She is an adjunct professor at Washburn University School of Law.
Current term
Appointed to court August 2022. Confirmed January 2023.
Judicial experience
2023-present, judge, Court of Appeals
2019-2023, district court judge, Third Judicial District (Shawnee County)
Previous professional experience
2018–2019, assistant solicitor general, Kansas Attorney General’s Office, Topeka
2015–2018, assistant district attorney, Shawnee County District Attorney’s Office, Topeka
2014–2015, public defender, Third Judicial District Public Defender Office, Topeka
2005–2013, appellate defender, Appellate Defender Office, Topeka
2002–2004, law clerk and associate attorney, Hovey Williams LLP, Kansas City
2002, summer clerkship, Miller Law Firm, Kansas City
2001, summer clerkship, Missouri Supreme Court, Jefferson City
1997–2000, intellectual property coordinator for technology transfer, Kansas State University Research Foundation, Manhattan
1996–1997, international paralegal, Howell and Haferkamp, L.C., St. Louis
Teaching and coaching experience
2018–present, adjunct professor and creator of law skills course, "Fundamentals of Oral Argument." Washburn University School of Law
2014–2019, moot court team coach for 5 teams, Washburn University School of Law
2007–present, volunteer moot court judge, Washburn University School of Law
2007, 2015–2019, guest lecturer, Washburn University School of Law
2010–present, Continuing Legal Education lecturer
Education
University of Missouri School of Law, J.D., 2003
University of Kansas School of Law, visiting law student, 2003
Roosevelt University, paralegal studies certificate program, 1995
University of Missouri-St. Louis, B.A., 1994
Written contributions and podcasts
10 Takeaways for a Successful Career: A Spotlight on Janet Levine, ABA Criminal Justice Magazine (August 2, 2023)
A Day in the Life: Judge and Prosecutor, JustPod, Podcast for the ABA Criminal Justice Section (October 6, 2021)
An Awakening and More: How Being Part of the Women in Criminal Justice Task Force Has Provided Me with a Judicial Awareness, ABA Criminal Justice Magazine (May 1, 2021)
Professional memberships and activities
American Bar Association
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National Appellate Advocacy Competition, 2021–2022
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Women in Criminal Justice Committee, co-chair, 2019–present
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Women in Criminal Justice Task Force, 2019–2023
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American Bar Foundation, Fellow
Hispanic National Bar Association
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Member, 2017–present
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Latina Leadership Academy, attendee, 2018
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Law Student and Young Lawyer Speed Mentoring program, HNBA conferences
Kansas Bar Association
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Member, Appellate division
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Kansas Bar Foundation, Fellow
Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association Leadership Academy
Kansas State Board of Examiners of Court Reporters
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Past chair
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Board, 2013–2022
Kansas Women Attorneys Association
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Program chair, 2018
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Program committee co-chair 30th anniversary conference, 2019
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Program committee, 2015–2019
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District representative, 2018–2019
National Association of Women Judges, 2019–present
Sam A. Crow American Inn of Court
Topeka Bar Association
Women Attorneys Association of Topeka
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Past president
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Program chair, 2013–2015
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Board member, 2013–2019
Association of Intellectual Property and Entrepreneurial Law (AIPEL)
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Co-founded law student group, initially titled Association of Intellectual Property and Entertainment Law, spring 2001
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Inaugural president, 2001–2002
Awards and honors
Nathan Burkan Memorial Copyright Award, ASCAP law school writing competition
CALI Excellence for the Future Award, Contracts II
Paralegal Studies Writing Scholarship, Roosevelt University Paralegal Certificate Program
Chancellor’s Scholarship, University of Missouri-St. Louis
Community, civic, and charitable activities
Topeka Symphony Orchestra, board member, 2018–present
Washburn Women’s Alliance, board member, 2018–present
Topeka Heartland Sertoma Club, 2018–present
Boy Scouts of America, assistant Cub Scout den leader, 2013–2016, Wamego
St. Bernard church, volunteer, Wamego
Additional information
She and her husband of 28 years settled in Manhattan, Kansas, over 25 years ago. They later moved to Wamego and raised their family in a small Kansas town. They now live in Topeka.