TOPEKA—Cowley County District Court Judge James T. Pringle has been appointed to sit with the Supreme Court Tuesday, October 21, to hear oral argument in an attorney discipline case.
After hearing oral argument, Pringle will join Supreme Court justices in their deliberations and opinion drafting.
“I’m glad Judge Pringle is willing to take time from his duties in Cowley County to come to Topeka to sit with the Supreme Court,” said Chief Justice Lawton R. Nuss.
Pringle, who has been district judge in Cowley County since 1998, said he welcomes the opportunity to sit with the state’s high court.
“I'm honored by the invitation and I look forward to sitting with the Supreme Court to hear oral argument and to deliberate a case,” Pringle said.
Pringle was appointed judge of the 19th judicial district in 1998 by then-Governor Bill Graves. Before that, he served as Cowley County attorney and also as Sumner County attorney, an elected position. He graduated from Washburn University School of Law.
All Supreme Court oral arguments are webcast live through the Watch Supreme Court Live! link in the right-hand column of the Kansas Judicial Branch website at www.kscourts.org.
The case Pringle will hear is scheduled at 9 a.m. Tuesday, October 21:
Appeal No. 111,364: In the Matter of Karen A. Eager, Respondent
Original Proceeding in Attorney Discipline: (Indefinite Suspension of Law License) Karen A. Eager was found to have failed to employ the requisite thoroughness and preparation reasonably necessary to represent her clients, to diligently and promptly represent her clients and take proper action in representing her clients – to the point of causing serious injury, to keep her clients informed of the status of the representation, to distribute funds, to take steps to protect her clients after representation was terminated, to make reasonable efforts to expedite litigation. She was also found to have continued to practice law after her license was suspended, to engage in conduct that was prejudicial to the administration of justice and that adversely reflected on her fitness to practice law, and failed to notify her clients, the courts, and opposing counsel of her suspension. The hearing panel found violations of the Kansas Rules of Professional Conduct and that Eager suffers from many health problems that contributed to her misconduct. The hearing panel recommended indefinite suspension of her law license. Eager did not take exceptions.