Retired Douglas County Judge Malone to sit with Kansas Supreme Court

TOPEKA—Douglas County District Court Judge Michael J. Malone retired August 29, but he will be back on the bench the week of September 8 sitting with the Kansas Supreme Court.

Malone accepted a role as senior judge with the Kansas judicial branch, which allows him to work on an as-needed basis in district and appellate courts. His first assignment is to sit with the Supreme Court when it hears its September docket starting Monday.

“I can think of no better way to ease into retirement than by continuing to do work I enjoy and I’m thrilled my first assignment is with the Supreme Court,” Malone said.

Malone will continue to sit with the Supreme Court until newly appointed Justice Caleb Stegall is sworn in to replace Justice Nancy Moritz, who was appointed to the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

“I’m glad Judge Malone will stay with the judicial branch for a little while longer as a senior judge,” said Chief Justice Lawton R. Nuss. “We appreciate his help and we deeply value his expertise.”

The Supreme Court will meet every day next week beginning at 9 a.m. to hear oral arguments on a number of cases. After hearing oral arguments, Malone will join Supreme Court justices in their deliberations and opinion drafting.

Malone was appointed to the Seventh Judicial District bench in Douglas County in 1982 by then-Gov. John Carlin, and he retired August 29. He served as chief judge of the district from 1990 to 2002. He was an adjunct professor at The University of Kansas School of Law for 33 years and he served on the Pattern Jury Instructions and the Criminal Law Advisory committees to the Kansas Judicial Council.

Prior to his appointment to the bench, Malone was in private law practice and also served as Douglas County district attorney from 1977 to 1982. He is a 1973 graduate of the Kansas University School of Law.