Larson to retire from Supreme Court

TOPEKA—Kansas Supreme Court Justice Edward Larson today announced his retirement effective September 4. He has been a member of the Court since September 1, 1995 and before that was a judge of the Court of Appeals since 1987.

Justice Larson said serving on the two Kansas appellate courts was rewarding and capped a legal career that began with his graduation from the Kansas University School of Law in 1960. "It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the citizens of Kansas as a member of both the Kansas Supreme Court and the Kansas Court of Appeals, Justice Larson said. Although retiring from the Court, Justice Larson said he hopes to continue his judicial service as a senior judge.

Justice Larson was born in rural Lincoln County, KS, on August 30, 1932. He was graduated from Kansas State University in 1954 with a BS degree. He was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant in the United States Air Force and served on active duty from 1954-1957. While in law school, he was a member of the Order of the Coif, and Editor-In-Chief of the Kansas Law Review.

Before his appointment to the Court of Appeals, he was in general practice of law in Hays since 1960. His practice consisted of civil litigation in western Kansas district courts with an emphasis on real property, oil and gas, business, estates, and taxation. He served as Hays Municipal Judge from 1965 to 1972. He was secretary of the Northwest Kansas Bar Association from 1963-74 and was its president in 1983. He served on the Board of Governors of the Kansas Bar Association from 1982 to 1988.

He is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the Kansas and American Bar Foundations. He has served on the Kansas Board of Law Examiners from 1977 to 1995 and as its chairman from 1992 to 1995. He has been a member of the Kansas Judicial Council Municipal Court Committee, the Kansas Judicial Council Probate and Trust Code Committee, and the Kansas University Law Society of which he was president in 1981. He has served as a member of the Governor's Committee on Children and Families and the Kansas Children's Cabinet.

He has been a member of St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Hays and is currently a member of Grace Episcopal Cathedral in Topeka. He and his wife, the former Mary Loretta Thompson, of Goodland, have three grown children, Sarah, John, and Mary Elizabeth, and six grandchildren.