Fairchild named chief judge of 7th Judicial District

TOPEKA—District Judge Robert W. Fairchild has been named chief judge of the 7th Judicial District, a one-county district consisting of Douglas County, to succeed Chief Judge Michael J. Malone who asked to be relieved of the additional administrative duties effective January 1.

Supreme Court Justice Bob Abbott, who is departmental justice for the area that includes Douglas County, said the Court is "sorry that Judge Malone didn't want to continue with the administrative duties. He has held the chief judge position for 12 years and has worked very hard. They have an outstanding judicial district," Justice Abbott said.

"Judge Malone has always had a good relationship with the other judges in the district, but has worked with other judges across the state on numerous court improvement projects. But we do look forward to working with Judge Fairchild and know he will do a great job as chief judge," Justice Abbott said.

As chief judge, Judge Fairchild will have general management responsibilities in the judicial district, including assigning judicial caseloads and directing all clerical and administrative personnel. The appointment is for two years.

Judge Fairchild was appointed to the Douglas County bench in March 1996, following approximately 23 years of private practice as a shareholder and attorney in the firm of Riling, Burkhead, Fairchild and Nitcher and its predecessors in Lawrence. He also has been an adjunct professor of law at the University of Kansas since 1993.

Judge Malone was appointed district judge in Douglas County in 1982, after having served nine years in the Douglas County attorney's office, first as an assistant county attorney and then as district attorney. He is a 1973 graduate of the Universityof Kansas law school. He has been an adjunct professor of law at the University of Kansas since 1981, where he teaches trial advocacy.