District Judge Jeff Elder to sit with Kansas Supreme Court September 18

TOPEKA—District Judge Jeff Elder of the 2nd Judicial District has been appointed to sit with the Kansas Supreme Court to hear oral arguments in one case on the court's September 14-18 docket conducted entirely by videoconference.

Oral arguments will be livestreamed on the Supreme Court YouTube channel.

After hearing oral arguments, Elder will join Supreme Court justices in their deliberations and decision drafting.

"The Supreme Court looks forward to Judge Elder hearing a case with us. He will read the case materials, prepare for oral argument, and deliberate with the court on its decision," said Chief Justice Marla Luckert. "We thank Judge Elder for helping us, especially because we know he already has a significant caseload in district court to handle."

Elder became a judge in 2008 in the 2nd Judicial District, composed of Jackson, Jefferson, Pottawatomie, and Wabaunsee counties. He hears cases primarily in Pottawatomie and Wabaunsee counties.

“It is a privilege and honor to be asked to sit with the Supreme Court," Elder said. "I am deeply humbled at receiving this assignment.”

Elder received a bachelor's degree from the University of Kansas and a law degree from the University of Kansas School of Law. He served as county attorney for Pottawatomie County from 1989 to 2001 and was in private practice before becoming a judge.

Elder will hear one case at 9 a.m. on the September 18 docket:

Appeal No. 118,307: In the Matter of the Estate of Lanny Lentz

Shawnee County: (Petition for Review) Lentz' three adult daughters were heirs to his estate, which included several real properties, four of which are at issue. The district court distributed two of the properties to Diann Wyatt and the other two properties to Lana Kennedy and Marilyn Lentz as joint tenants in common. Wyatt appealed the district court's valuation of the four properties. The Court of Appeals concluded Wyatt's appeal was not filed in a timely fashion and dismissed the appeal for lack of jurisdiction. The Court of Appeals also held even if it reached the merits of Wyatt's issues on appeal, the court found she did not properly raise them before the district court and they were not property preserved for appellate review. Issues on review are whether: 1) Wyatt timely appealed the district court's decision on valuation; 2) Wyatt properly preserved the issues for appellate review; and 3) the district court made a proper determination of the valuation of the properties.