Judge Kathryn A. Gardner

Judge Kathryn A. Gardner served as a research attorney for a judge on the Court of Appeals, as a law clerk for a federal judge, as an assistant attorney general for the State of Kansas, and as a litigator in private practice before her appointment to the Court of Appeals.

 

Current term

January 2021–January 2025

Appointed to court 2015

 

Judicial experience

2015-present, judge, Kansas Court of Appeals

 

Previous professional experience

Adjunct professor, Washburn University School of Law

Law Clerk for U.S. District Judge Sam A. Crow, U.S. District Court of Kansas

Litigation associate and partner, Martin, Pringle law firm, Wichita

Assistant attorney general, civil division, Kansas Attorney General's Office

Research Attorney for Judge Joe Haley Swinehart, Kansas Court of Appeals

Law Clerk for the general counsel, Kansas State Board of Regents

English and French teacher, Washburn Rural High School, Topeka

 

Education

University of Kansas School of Law, J.D., 1983

Geneva College, Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, B.A. magna cum laude, English, 1978

 

Professional memberships and activities

Kansas Bar Association

• Editor, Law Wise

• Chair, Law-Related Education Committee and Legal Issues Affecting the Elderly Committee

Kansas Bar Foundation Fellow

Wichita Bar Association

• Board of Governors

Topeka Bar Association

Sam A. Crow American Inn of Court Master

• President

• Secretary-treasurer

U.S. District Court Civil Justice Reform Act Committee

U.S. District Court Federal Practice Handbook Committee

Published articles in:

• the American Bar Association's State Antitrust Law Handbook;

• the Kansas Bar Association Journal and Law Wise;

• the American Inns of Court Bencher;

• The Journal of Legal Aspects of Sport; and

• multiple newsletters and continuing legal education handbooks.  

Panel of practitioner contributors for Black’s Law Dictionary, 9th Edition, 2009

Frequent speaker and author for continuing legal education programs

 

Awards and honors

Geneva College Distinguished Service Award, 2017

National Registry of Who's Who, life member, 2000

Who's Who in American Education, 1995

Who's Who in American Law, 1993

Outstanding Young Women of America, 1988

American Jurisprudence Book Award for Criminal Law, 1981

 

Community, civic, and charitable activities

Geneva College Board of Directors

Cair Paravel Latin School, former vice president, board of directors             

Church volunteer

Alliance Francaise

Community choir

 

Additional information

Judge Gardner and her husband, Timothy, have three daughters and two granddaughters.