TOPEKA—Supreme Court Justice Bob Abbott today announced his retirement following 26 years service on the appellate courts and 17 years in private practice prior to that. The retirement is effective June 6.
Justice Abbott was the first person appointed to the Court of Appeals when it was re-established effective January 10, 1977, and served with that court until his appointment to the Supreme Court in 1990. During his tenure on the Court of Appeals, Justice Abbott served as Chief Judge from 1985 until his Supreme Court appointment. While chief judge of the Court of Appeals, he supervised its expansion from seven to 10 members. He authored in excess of 2,000 Court of Appeals and Supreme Court decisions and participated in the decision of thousands more.
Justice Abbott was born in Hanston, KS. He received an AA degree from Dodge City Junior College in 1952, a BS degree from Emporia State University in 1956, a JD degree from the Washburn University School of Law in 1960, and a Master of Law Degree from the University of Virginia in 1986.
While in law school, he was a member of the Law Review Board that founded the Washburn Law Journal, served as president of Delta Theta Phi law fraternity, and was a recipient of its key for excellence in scholarship. He graduated second in his law school class.
Justice Abbott engaged in private practice in Junction City from November 1960 until his appointment to the Court of Appeals.
Justice Abbott also served as an adjunct professor at the Washburn law school, teaching professional responsibility from 1978 through 1988. He has received the Distinguished Alumnus Citation from Dodge City Community College, Emporia State University, and Washburn University law school. He is an admittee to the Dodge City Community College Hall of Fame and has received the Smiling Bull award from the Leavenworth County Bar Association. While practicing law, he was named the Junction City and the State of Kansas Outstanding Young Man.
He lettered in four sports in high school and played college football and basketball. Justice Abbott and his wife, the former Kaye Cummings, have four children, Bryce, Bren, Kyle Ann, and Jayme.