TOPEKA—Chief Justice Robert E. Davis today announced his retirement from the Supreme Court after 17 years service on the state’s highest court. He has been Chief Justice since January 2009.
In a letter he submitted to Governor Mark Parkinson announcing his retirement, Chief Justice Davis cited medical issues as prompting his decision to retire. He has been on medical leave this spring and summer, but continued to work on Court administrative matters and his caseload as his health and treatment regimen permitted.
Chief Justice Davis, 70, has been a member of the Supreme Court since 1993. Before his appointment to the Supreme Court, he served eight years on the State Court of Appeals and before that as a judge of the Leavenworth County District Court. He also served a term as Leavenworth County Attorney.
Davis said in his letter to the Governor he is grateful to have been a part of the many accomplishments and court improvements over the years that have led to a national recognition of the Kansas courts as a leader in court reform and administering justice fairly without unnecessary delay.
“I cannot say enough about how proud I am of the dedicated Kansas judges and non-judicial employees who have worked hand-in-hand to administer justice in a timely and fair manner, often under extremely adverse economic conditions,” Chief Justice Davis said in the letter.
“I have truly loved my judicial career in this dedicated court system, and will miss working with the district courts and with my colleagues on the Kansas Supreme Court, whose members without doubt comprise one of the best appellate courts in the country. I wish them and everyone in the courts all the best,” he wrote.
Chief Justice Davis participated in thousands of decisions during his tenure on the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals. While on the Supreme Court, he authored 351 majority opinions, 21 dissents, and six concurring opinions.
Justice Lawton R. Nuss, as next most tenured justice on the high court, assumes the position of Chief Justice pursuant to the Kansas Constitution. He has been acting on behalf of Chief Justice Davis during the medical leave. The vacancy on the Court will be filled through the merit selection process with nominations made by the Supreme Court Nominating Commission and appointment by the Governor.
Justice Nuss said Chief Justice Davis will be genuinely missed on the Court. "He has been the gentleman's gentleman throughout his career. I have never met a more gracious and humble person, who also is as skilled and learned in the law as Chief Justice Davis."
"He has an innate ability to cut to the chase of the legal issues before him, and then the knowledge and skills to write flowing and well-reasoned opinions. He always has a broad smile for every living creature, and is a true friend to all of us. Kansas is losing a learned jurist and consummate public servant. His work on the Court and his good cheer in the system will be truly missed with his retirement," Justice Nuss said.
Chief Justice Davis engaged in private practice in Leavenworth from 1967 to 1984, when he was appointed associate district judge. While in private practice he served as Leavenworth County attorney from 1981 to 1984. He also served as a magistrate judge in Leavenworth County from 1969 to 1976. After serving as an associate district judge for two years, Chief Justice Davis was appointed to the Kansas Court of Appeals in 1986, where he served until appointment to the Supreme Court in 1993.
In addition to service with the Kansas courts, Chief Justice Davis served as a member of the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps, including as trial counsel in the Republic of Korea and as government appellate counsel in Washington D.C. from 1964 to 1967. He received a BA degree from Creighton University, Omaha, and a law degree from Georgetown University Law School, Washington, D.C.
Justice Davis has been active in numerous civic and professional organizations throughout his career.
Justice Nuss, the next Chief Justice, has been a member of the Supreme Court since 2002, following 20 years of private practice in a wide range of legal issues and proceedings in the Salina firm of Clark, Mize & Linville.