Chase County district magistrate judge appointed

TOPEKA—Cottonwood Falls Attorney Douglas P. Jones today was appointed District Magistrate Judge for Chase County.

Jones was among five persons who applied to fill a vacancy that is being created by the retirement Friday, December 12, of Hon. John R. Conklin.  The appointment was made by the 5th Judicial District Nominating Commission, following interviews that were conducted Monday morning. 

Jones is a 2002 graduate of the Washburn University School of Law and a 1997 graduate of Emporia State University.  He has been an attorney and managing member of the Cottonwood Falls firm of Rayl & Jones, LLC, since August 2002.  During his practice, he has been city attorney for both Strong city and Neosho Rapids.

The 5th Judicial District is a two-county district consisting of Chase and Lyon counties.  Members of the nominating commission include Supreme Court Justice Carol A. Beier, the non-voting chair; Theodore J. Hollembeak, Michael C. Helbert, W. Irivng Shaw, Kenneth D. Buchele, and Lloyd Stone, all of Emporia; Charles Rayl, and Leigh Ann Crofoot, both of Cottonwood falls, and Gary D. Sneed, Cedar Point.