Arnold-Burger appointed to COA

Governor Parkinson has appointed Overland Park Municipal Judge Karen Arnold-Burger to the Kansas Court of Appeals, filling the vacancy created by Chief Judge Rulon's retirement:

Governor Mark Parkinson has appointed Karen Arnold-Burger of Overland Park as Judge of the Kansas Court of Appeals.

“Throughout her career, Karen has demonstrated a respect and passion for the law that will honorably serve the people of Kansas on the Court of Appeals,” said Parkinson. “She will bring with her decades of experience as well as a commitment to justice, and I am honored to appoint her.”

Arnold-Burger began her career as a labor relations attorney at Shell Oil Company before returning to Kansas to become a first assistant city attorney for the City of Overland Park. Arnold-Burger then became an assistant U.S. attorney at the District of Kansas, U.S. Attorney’s Office in Kansas City before serving the City of Overland Park again as a municipal judge, and since 1996, as a presiding judge. Currently, Arnold-Burger is also an adjunct faculty member for the Institute for Faculty Excellence in Judicial Education and the National Judicial College, as well as conducts courses and trainings across the country on behalf of the American Bar Association.

Arnold-Burger attended the University of Kansas where she received her bachelors’ in personnel administration, political science and psychology, as well as her juris doctorate. She has been decorated with many awards over her career, including the M. Barbara Award for Outstanding Contributions to Judicial Education in Kansas. Arnold-Burger also serves on a number of organizations, such as the Kansas Women Attorneys Association, the Johnson County Criminal Justice Advisory Council, and is the Kansas co-chair of the American Bar Association Membership Committee.

There is one more vacancy on the COA (created by Nancy Moritz' elevation to the KSC). The Nominating Commission is currently taking applications and will interview in early February. A court press release notes that, for the first time, Nominating Commission interviews will be open to the public. The Nominating Commission will forward names to Governor Brownback who will make his first appointment to the appellate courts this spring.