Kansas Judicial Branch
TOPEKA—Retired district judge Thomas Tuggle will take on a new role in the courtroom when the Kansas Supreme Court visits Concordia.
Tuggle was selected to be the honorary bailiff at the supreme court’s special session, which starts at 6:30 p.m. October 11 at Concordia High School.
“It is an honor to have the supreme court travel to Concordia to hear cases and it’s an honor for me to be a part of the process,” Tuggle said.
As honorary bailiff, Tuggle will call to order the audience assembled at Concordia High School, and then the supreme court will hear oral arguments in two cases.
While getting his undergraduate degree at Kansas State University, Tuggle was inspired by his business law instructor to go into law. As he began to study law at the University of Kansas School of Law, he realized just how much society is entangled with the judicial branch and legal system.
Now that the Kansas Supreme Court is coming to Concordia, Tuggle said he hopes the public will take advantage of this opportunity to learn about the judicial branch.
“The public hears a lot from the executive and legislative branch, but this is a great chance for those in the community to learn about the rule of law, why it is important, and how it is applied by courts,” said Tuggle.
Tuggle was in private practice for 18 years in Arizona and Kansas before becoming a district judge in 1989. He served as a district judge in the 12th Judicial District for 17 years before retiring in 2006.