Governor appoints Magistrate Judge Kristin Hutchinson to fill district court vacancy in the 13^th Judicial District

Today Governor Laura Kelly appointed Magistrate Judge Kristin Hutchinson, to fill the term of retiring District Judge Mike Ward.

“Judge Hutchinson has extensive experience with a wide variety of legal issues,” Kelly said. “I know she will serve the citizens of Butler County and the entire 13^th Judicial District well.”

Hutchinson has served as a District Magistrate Judge in Elk County for the past eleven years, where she handles probate, small claims, juvenile offender and child-in-need-of-care cases. Hutchinson has prior experience as Chautauqua County Attorney pro tem, in addition to over a decade of experience with the City of Emporia, KS which included five years as Municipal Judge. She graduated from Southwestern College in 1979 and earned her juris doctor from the University of Kansas School of Law in 1983.

District judges in Butler County are elected and serve four-year terms. When a judge retires in the middle of a term, the governor appoints a new judge to finish out the term. The position to which Hutchinson is being appointed will be on the ballot in 2020. The 13^th Judicial District includes the counties of Butler, Elk, and Greenwood.

Governor Kelly issues Executive Orders to aid Kansans during COVID-19 pandemic 

As she discussed during her press briefing, Governor Laura Kelly today issued two new executive orders as part of her administration’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Due to the obstacles created by social distancing for Kansans whose work requires the renewal of a license, certificate, permit or registration, Executive Order #20-19 extends professional and occupational licenses for the remainder of the pandemic.  

Under the order, all state agencies shall extend renewal deadlines for any occupational or professional license that has expired – or will expire – during this disaster. Licenses will remain valid as long as the disaster declaration is in effect, and for 90 days after it expires.  

“Thousands of licensed workers are officing from home in an effort to follow guidance from public health officials,” Kelly said. “This order will ensure those Kansans are not hampered by licensing problems that they are powerless to solve under our present circumstances, so they can continue to do their jobs safely from home.”  

The measure also waives any late penalties or expiration fees, and it extends deadlines for continuing education requirements.  

The governor also issued Executive Order #20-20, which will temporarily allow notaries and witnesses to do their jobs remotely, through audio-video communication technology.  

“Our economy is at a standstill at the moment,” the Governor said. “But to the extent that we can, it’s important to find ways for Kansans to continue safely entering into contracts, filing marriage licenses, updating wills and handling other personal health care directives while still adhering to social distancing protocols.”  

Executive Order #20-19 can be found here.

Executive Order #20-20 can be found here.  

Gov. Laura Kelly takes legal action  
to keep Kansans safe amid global public health pandemic 
 

On Wednesday, the Kansas Legislative Coordinating Council (LCC) voted to revoke Kelly Executive Order 20-18, a temporary limit to mass gatherings of 10 or fewer people. This unprecedented action by the LCC to overrule a governor’s emergency response authority puts every Kansas life at risk amid a global health pandemic. In response, the Kelly administration today announced it has taken legal action to ensure politics do not continue to impede on the state’s ability to save Kansas lives.  

“The last thing I want right now is a legal battle,” Kelly said. “But Kansas lives are on the line, and I took an oath to uphold and defend the constitution. What the LCC did yesterday – in concert with the Kansas Attorney General – weakened and confused our emergency response efforts, putting every Kansan at risk. I cannot stand for that.” 

The Kansas Emergency Management Act empowers the Legislature with certain checks upon gubernatorial authority in the time of an emergency. However, those checks are allocated to the Kansas Legislature as a whole – not the seven-person Legislative Coordinating Council. If the Legislature seeks to amend the Kansas Emergency Management Act, it must do so by way of the constitutionally prescribed legislative process— not by issuing a mere concurrent resolution. Under the Kansas Constitution, laws are made by passing bills through both houses of the Legislature and presenting them to the Governor for signature. The Legislature bypassed that process when it attempted in the waning hours before adjourning to change the Kansas Emergency Management Act through a resolution. 

As such, the LCC’s actions yesterday conflict with both the Kansas Constitution and Kansas statute, which explicitly states that revocation of emergency orders resides with the Legislature as a whole – not with the LCC.  

“Throughout my time as governor, my administration has actively engaged the Kansas Legislature in our decision-making processes,” Kelly said. “I have invited lawmakers to provide input on various initiatives, to participate on various gubernatorial task forces, and I have always welcomed diverse voices and ideas to the table, no matter what the issue at hand. I will continue to do so – especially as it pertains to this public health pandemic and the necessary work that will soon be upon us to reopen and rebuild our economy. But there’s a difference between collaboration and control. My action today is about protecting our government’s constitutionally protected separation of powers, so that we can respond effectively to the worst public health emergency of our lifetimes.” 

The suit was filed with the Kansas Supreme Court to provide a conclusive, swift decision.  

Bourbon County COVID 19 Cases remain at 7.

Click below for the latest update:

https://public.tableau.com/profile/kdhe.epidemiology#!/vizhome/COVID-19Data_15851817634470/KSCOVID-19CaseData

Click below:

https://public.tableau.com/profile/kdhe.epidemiology#!/vizhome/COVID-19Data_15851817634470/KSCOVID-19CaseData

The Kansas Water Authority (KWA) will have a virtual meeting by webinar on Tuesday, April 14 starting at 10 a.m.

For additional meeting information or how to access it, visit the Kansas Water Office website, www.kwo.ks.gov or call (785) 296-3185.

The KWA is responsible for advising the Governor, Legislature and Director of the Kansas Water Office on water policy issues. They also ensure that water policies and programs address the needs of all Kansans as well as serve as advisors of the Kansas Water Vision and Kansas Water Plan. The KWA was established in 1981 and consists of 13 voting members who are appointed by the Governor or Legislative leadership. State agency directors serve as ex-officio members.