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TOPEKA—Chief Justice Marla Luckert announced today the Supreme Court has selected Stephanie Bunten to become the next judicial administrator, the state’s highest ranking nonjudicial position in the Kansas court system.
Bunten will succeed Nancy Dixon, who retires April 16 after 10 years in the position.
“Stephanie brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and skill to her new role as judicial administrator. And she has years of experience with the Kansas court system,” Luckert said. “Combined, these provide her a solid foundation on which to take strategic, decisive actions that will help us deliver a modern, well-run judiciary to the people of Kansas.”
Most recently, Bunten has served as chief financial officer for the courts, a position she’s held since 2015. Earlier, she served as assistant fiscal officer and as a research attorney for a Court of Appeals judge. In between her terms with the court system, she was a tax accountant for Mize Houser & Company, PA, in Topeka.
"I'm honored by the Supreme Court's faith in me, and I look forward to working in this new capacity to help the court fulfill its strategic goals," Bunten said. "After working in the private sector, I was inspired to return to the Kansas court system to be part of efforts to modernize operations and to maximize access to justice. I had no idea it would lead me to this position, but I’m so glad it did.”
The judicial administrator has significant responsibilities carrying out the Supreme Court’s directions for delivering a statewide court system. Duties of the judicial administrator and the Office of Judicial Administration touch every aspect of day-to-day management of the judicial branch, including:
The Kansas court system is in the middle of a project to centralize case management on a single web-based platform. The centralized case management system is a key component in the Supreme Court’s eCourt plan, and it will transform the way the state court system serves the people of Kansas.
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated other modernization efforts because it required courts to adopt remote methods for managing caseloads and serving the people of Kansas.
Bunten played a critical role securing grant funding that allowed courts to buy equipment needed for remote work, including hearings by videoconference. Grant funding was also used to create an online marriage license application and the Kansas Protection Order Portal for victims of abuse, stalking, or trafficking to seek protection orders.
Bunten is a graduate of Washburn University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in accounting. She earned a law degree from Washburn University School of Law and a Master of Laws in taxation from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law.
She has served as planning chair for the Financial Managers Summit through the National Center for State Courts from 2019 to present. From 2019-2021, she served as chair for the Kansas Conference on Taxes organized by the Kansas CPA Society, and from 2015-2018 she served on the organization’s board of directors. She was Sertoman of the Year at the club, district, and regional levels in 2018. She has been a board member for the Topeka Heartland Sertoma Club, Meals on Wheels, Safe Streets’ National Night Out Against Crime, and the Metropolitan Ballet of Topeka.