TOPEKA – Gov. Sam Brownback announced the appointment of Paul J. Hickman to the 28th District Court of the state of Kansas. Hickman will fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Jerome P. Hellmer.

“I’d like to thank Paul for his willingness to serve his community in this capacity,” Brownback said. “With his experience as both a prosecutor and a public defender, he will be an excellent asset to the 28th Judicial District.”

Hickman resides in Salina and currently serves as deputy public defender in the Salina Regional Public Defender’s Office, where he has practiced since 1997. Previously, he served as a prosecutor in Barton County. He received both his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Kansas.

The state’s 105 counties are organized into 31 judicial districts. The district courts serve as the trial courts for the state, overseeing all civil and criminal cases. The 28th District Court serves Ottawa and Saline Counties.