TOPEKA—The names of three persons were submitted to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius Tuesday as nominees for appointment to the newly created 12th position on the State Court of Appeals. The position was created by the Legislature effective January 1, 2005.
Nominees include Nancy S. Anstaett, Overland Park; Glenn R. Braun, Hays; and Michael B. Buser, Overland Park. The governor will have 60 days in which to make an appointment.
Anstaett has been a partner in the firm of Rowe & Anstaett, Overland Park, since 1997. Before that she practiced in the firm of McAnany, Van Cleave & Phillips beginning in the summer of 1980, the year she was graduated magna cum laude from the Washburn University School of Law. During her career, she represented the state in litigation by Blue Cross and Blue Shield challenging the authority of the attorney general to enforce claims of charitable status, which ultimately resulted in a requirement that Blue Cross and Blue Shield pay $75 milion to a new charitable foundation.
Anstaett also was graduated magna cum laude from Kansas State University where she had a dual major in Journalism & Mass Communication and Sociology.
Braun began his legal career upon graduation from the Washburn law school with honors in 1981 as an associate in the firm of Robert F. Glassman, P.A. in Hays. He was elevated to partner in 1984 and the firm was renamed Glassman, Bird & Braun. In 1996, the firm became Glassman, Bird, Braun & Schwartz, L.L.P., which it remains to date.
Braun served as Ellis County Attorney from 1989 to 1997 and as special prosecutor for the City of Hays from 1983-2001 when he became the City of Hays Prosecutor, a position he continues in to date. He also has served as Woodston City Attorney since 2000. He received a BS degree from Kansas State University and attended Benedictine College and the University of Copenhagen in Denmark.
Buser has been with the firm of Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P. since 1991. He began his legal career in 1977 when he joined the Johnson County District Attorney's office as an assistant district attorney. He became Senior Assistant District Attorney and Administrative Assistant to the District Attorney in 1980 and held that position until he entered private practice in July 1988 to serve as general attorney for the Union Pacific Railroad Co. He joined the Shook, Hardy firm three years later.
Buser is a 1977 graduate of the University of Kansas School of Law with honors, and a 1974 graduate of Georgetown University with dual majors in Theology and American Government.