The Hon. Mike Keeley, Chief Judge of the 20th Judicial District headquartered at Great Bend, Thursday was elected president of the Kansas District Judges Association (KDJA), during the association’s annual meeting in Overland Park.
He succeeds Hon. Richard M. Smith, Chief Judge of the 6th Judicial District, headquartered at Mound City. The Association presented Judge Smith with the KDJA Scales of Justice Award, honoring him for his leadership of the association. Also at the meeting, Hon. Maritza Segarra, Junction City, was presented the association’s Community Outreach Award for her volunteer service in Geary County truancy court and other legal community programs.
Judge Keeley has served as Chief Judge of the five-county 20th Judicial District since January 2004. The district includes Barton, Ellsworth, Rice, Russell, and Stafford counties. He has been a District Court Judge since January of 1993. He graduated from Washburn University in 1979 and from the Washburn Law School in 1982.
Judge Smith has been Chief Judge of the 6th Judicial District, which includes Miami, Linn, and Bourbon counties, since December 2003.  He has been a District Court judge since 1989 and before that served four years as Linn County Attorney.  He received a BS degree with honors from Washburn University in 1977 and graduated from the Washburn law school in 1980.
Judge Segarra was recognized by the KDJA “as an outstanding representative of the judiciary” for her contributions in the association, presentation of numerous Continuing Legal Education Programs, starting a truancy court at the local high school, which she attends every Tuesday, and serving as a member and active volunteer on numerous community and professional organizations in Junction City and across the state.
Eight former District Court judges were recognized at Thursday’s annual meeting. They include:  Allen R. Slater, Olathe; Robert J. Schmisseur, Pratt; Paul E. Miller, Manhattan; Thomas L. Toepfer, Hays; Charles A. Andrews, Topeka; Thomas L. Boeding, Kansas City, KS; Donald R. Noland, Girard; and David E. Bruns, Topeka, who is now a member of the state Court of Appeals.