TOPEKA—Kansas Court of Appeals Judge Karen Arnold-Burger has been recognized by the Kansas District Judges Association for demonstrating extraordinary leadership and service.
Arnold-Burger was given the Community Outreach and Education Award by the association at a statewide conference for judges in June. The award was presented to Arnold-Burger by Lawton Nuss, chief justice of the Kansas Supreme Court and a law school classmate of Arnold-Burger.
"I am honored to present this award on behalf the Kansas District Judges Association to my esteemed colleague, Judge Arnold-Burger," Nuss said. "Her enduring enthusiasm reaching out to the people of Kansas to explain the importance of fair and impartial courts, the cornerstone of our American democracy, is inspiring."
The Community Outreach and Education Award is given annually to a member of the Kansas judiciary who demonstrates extraordinary leadership and service in educating the public about courts and the judicial branch, with emphasis on developing public trust and confidence, and supporting access to justice and fairness.
Arnold-Burger was selected to receive the award for her work with the National Association of Women Judges "Informed Voters — Fair Judges" project, a nonpartisan voter education program designed to increase the public's knowledge of fair and impartial courts.
"I am deeply honored to receive this recognition for doing something I feel so strongly about," said Arnold-Burger. "National surveys show that most Americans lack a basic understanding of civics and the workings of our three, equally strong branches of government. I find that people are eager to learn about the role of the judicial branch in our democracy and that motivates me to speak to groups all across Kansans."
Over the last three years, Arnold-Burger has traveled across Kansas speaking to community, civic and professional groups about the role of courts in our democracy, as well as attempts to politicize courts. She also volunteers time to a Kansas Informed Voters Project, as well as the national project affiliated with her professional association.
The National Association of Women Judges launched the "Informed Voters - Fair Judges" project in 2014 to highlight the role of courts in American society with the goal of helping voters understand their role in ensuring fairness and justice for all who enter the legal system.
Arnold-Burger has been a judge on the Kansas Court of Appeals since January 2011. Before she was appointed to the Court of Appeals in 2011, Arnold-Burger was municipal court judge and then presiding municipal court judge in Overland Park, Assistant U.S. Attorney in Kansas City, Kansas, and First Assistant City Attorney for the City of Overland Park. She is a graduate of the University of Kansas School of Law, where she serves on the Board of Governors.
Her professional accomplishments include serving as president of the Johnson County Bar Association, the Kansas Municipal Judges Association, and the Earl E. O'Connor Inn of Court. She has been an adjunct faculty member at the National Judicial College since 2000 and was elected by fellow faculty to serve on the Faculty Council beginning in 2010. She is a graduate of the Institute for Faculty Excellence in Judicial Education at the University of Memphis and is a frequent presenter at judicial education programs nationwide.
She's received many awards, including the Justinian Award for Professional Excellence by the Johnson County Bar Association, which is given annually to an attorney who exemplifies integrity, service to the community, and service to the legal profession. Others include the Outstanding Service Award from the Kansas Bar Association; the Warren W. Shaw Distinguished Service Award from the Topeka Bar Association; the Kay McFarland Award from the Women Attorneys Association of Topeka; and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration National Public Safety Award.
She designed a judicial outreach project, "A Wrong of Passage," that is used by judges all over the country and has grown into an organization that focuses community support on the issue of underage drinking. She was awarded the Regional Prevention Center Founder's Award in 2008 and a scholarship was named after her.