Rulon named chief judge of Court of Appeals

TOPEKA—The Supreme Court today announced the appointment of Judge Gary W. Rulon as the next chief judge of the state Court of Appeals. Chief Justice Kay McFarland said the appointment is effective January 8th, upon the retirement of the current chief judge, J. Patrick Brazil.

Judge Rulon, of Emporia, has been a member of the Court of Appeals since 1988. Before that, he was administrative judge of the 5th Judicial District, which consists of Chase and Lyon counties. Prior to his appointment as administrative judge in Emporia, Rulon served as a staff attorney on the Central Staff of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit. He was in private practice in Emporia from 1972 to 1979.

He is a graduate of Washburn University and of the Washburn Law School, as well as Topeka High School. He and his wife, Patricia, have two grown daughters who live in the Kansas City area.

As chief judge of the Court of Appeals, Judge Rulon will be responsible for general administrative functions and judge and location assignments. The Court of Appeals is an intermediate appellate court, which sits in three-judge panels across the state.