Sarah Warner
2019 - Present
2029
5
Sarah Warner is a judge of the Kansas Court of Appeals. She assumed office on May 29, 2019. Her current term ends on January 15, 2029.
Warner ran for re-election for judge of the Kansas Court of Appeals. She won in the retention election on November 5, 2024.
Warner was appointed to the Kansas Court of Appeals by Gov. Laura Kelly (D) on April 30, 2019, and confirmed by the state Senate on May 29, 2019, after.[1] In order to remain on the court, Warner was subject to a retention election on November 3, 2020.
Education
Warner attended the University of Kansas, where she majored in French, international studies, mathematics, and political science. She graduated in 2003 with honors and distinction. Warner received her J.D., magna cum laude, from the Ave Maria School of Law in 2006. During her legal studies, Warner served as editor of the Ave Maria Law Review from 2004 to 2006.[1][2]
Career
After law school, Warner was a law clerk to Chief Justice Robert E. Davis on the Kansas Supreme Court until 2009. Warner began practicing law at Thompson Warner in Lawrence, Kansas, in 2009. She became a partner with her law firm in 2014.[1][2]
Associations
- Kansas Bar Association
- Kansas Board for Discipline of Attorneys
- Kansas Association of Defense Counsel
- Defense Research Institute
- Judge Hugh Means Inn of Court
- Missouri Bar Association
- Douglas County Bar Association
- Michael J. Malone Douglas County Law Library Board of Trustees[2]
Elections
2024
See also: Kansas intermediate appellate court elections, 2024
Kansas Court of Appeals, Sarah Warner's seat
Sarah Warner was retained to the Kansas Court of Appeals on November 5, 2024 with 76.0% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
76.0
|
796,547 | ||
No |
24.0
|
251,916 | |||
Total Votes |
1,048,463 | ||||
|
|
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Warner in this election.
2020
Kansas Court of Appeals
Sarah Warner was retained to the Kansas Court of Appeals on November 3, 2020 with 77.6% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
77.6
|
907,352 | ||
No |
22.4
|
261,435 | |||
Total Votes |
1,168,787 | ||||
|
|
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Sarah Warner did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Sarah Warner did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign finance summary
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Noteworthy events
Lawsuit surrounding court of appeals appointment (2019)
On April 30, 2019, Gov. Laura Kelly (D) appointed Warner to the Kansas Court of Appeals, subject to confirmation by the Kansas State Senate. At that time, the governor faced a legal challenge related to her authority to appoint a new appellate court member.[1]
The question arose after Gov. Kelly withdrew her first nominee, Jeff Jack. Senate President Susan Wagle (R) said Kelly missed the legal deadline for nominating an appeals judge. Kelly disagreed, arguing the withdrawal amounted to a failed nomination. Kansas law authorizes the governor to name a second appeals court nominee if the first nomination fails in the Senate. According to San Francisco Gate, the law does not say what happens if a nomination is withdrawn without a Senate vote.[3]
On April 22, 2019, Attorney General Derek Schmidt (R) asked the Kansas Supreme Court to weigh in on the matter. Schmidt said in a petition the law was "silent on the question" and "provides no legal authority for either the governor or the chief justice to fill a vacancy in this situation."[3]
On May 10, 2019, the Kansas Supreme Court ruled that Kelly did not have the authority to withdraw Jack's nomination. The court also ruled that the state Senate would need to vote to reject his nomination, and if it did not within a week, Jack would be considered confirmed.[4]
See also
2024 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Office of the governor, "Governor appoints Sarah Warner to Kansas Court of Appeals," April 30, 2019
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Thompson Warner, "Sarah E. Warner," accessed May 2, 2019
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 San Francisco Gate, "AG asks top Kansas court to say who names new appeals judge," April 22, 2019
- ↑ Salina Post, "Supreme Court: Kan. Senate must vote to keep nominee off bench," May 10, 2019
Federal courts:
Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Kansas • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Kansas
State courts:
Kansas Supreme Court • Kansas Court of Appeals • Kansas District Courts • Kansas Municipal Courts
State resources:
Courts in Kansas • Kansas judicial elections • Judicial selection in Kansas
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