One new member named, five reappointed to Access to Justice Committee
TOPEKA — Vivien Olsen, an attorney in Mayetta, was appointed to a three-year term on the Access to Justice Committee, and five other members were reappointed to serve another three years.
Chief Justice Lawton R. Nuss of the Kansas Supreme Court appointed the six people to terms that began July 1 and end June 30, 2020.
Reappointed were:
Stephine Bowman, Topeka, of the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence
Jennifer Foster, McPherson, administrator of the McPherson County District Court
Patricia Scalia, Topeka, of the Board of Indigents’ Defense Services
District Judge Erica Schoenig, Olathe, Johnson County District Court
Amanda Truan, Hays, administrator of the Ellis County District Court.
The Access to Justice Committee makes recommendations to the Supreme Court about issues such as increasing the resources available for legal services for low-income litigants in civil cases; improving planning and coordination of legal services delivery; and reducing potential barriers to equal access to justice.
Olsen succeeds Tom Weishaar, Leavenworth, chief court services officer of the Leavenworth County District Court, whose term expired.
Other members of the committee are:
Melanie Branham, Overland Park, attorney
Chief Judge Joe Dickinson, Newton, Harvey County District Court
Chief Judge Van Hampton, Dodge City, Ford County District Court
Marilyn Harp, Topeka, Kansas Legal Services
District Magistrate Judge James R. Kepple, Ness City, Ness County District Court
District Judge Bill L. Klapper, Kansas City, Kan., Wyandotte County District Court
Cindy MacDonald, Abilene, clerk of the Dickinson County District Court
District Magistrate Judge Starla Borg Nelson, Belleville, Republic County District Court
Eric Rosenblad, Pittsburg, Kansas Legal Services
Chief Judge Nicholas St. Peter, Winfield, Cowley County District Court
John Steelman, Ottawa, administrator of the Franklin County District Court
Chief Judge A.J. Wachter, Pittsburg, Crawford County District Court.