Daniel Biles
Encyclopedia
Daniel Biles is a Justice on the Kansas Supreme Court
. Biles was appointed on January 7, 2009, by Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius
to replace retiring Chief Justice Kay McFarland
.
Biles, in 1985, became a partner of the law firm of Gates, Biles & Shields, P.A., which is based in Overland Park, KS
. Biles focused his legal practice in the areas of Commercial Litigation, Education Law, Administrative Law, Appellate Practice, Real Estate Transaction, Employment Law, Transportation, Municipal Financing, Civil Rights, First Amendment Cases, and Media Law.
Biles while in private practice work was active in political endeavors as he was a member of the Kansas Turnpike Authority Board and also on the Kansas State Board of Education.
. On January 7, 2009, Biles was appointed by Governor Sebelius; the other two choices recommended by the Kansas Supreme Court Nominating Commission were the Chief Judge of the Douglas County
Court Robert Fairchild and Kansas Court of Appeals Judge Tom Malone
.
and the Kansas Democratic Party.
Transparency records from KanView show that during the 2008 Fiscal year that Biles was the recipient of over $360,000 of contacts for legal representation for the Kansas Department of Education, Kansas State Lottery, and the Kansas Department of Transportation. The amount that Biles has received from Kansas state contracts along with Biles and his wife and other partners in his law firm giving very generous donations to Governor Kathleen Sebelius and also other prominent candidates, including Barack Obama
for President, raise the question if Biles received the appointment on the basis of being a financially generous donor to Kathleen Sebelius.
It has been noted by the Kansas City Star that Governor Sebelius and her husband have been friends of Biles for more than three decades, starting when the Governor's husband was an attorney for the Topeka School District and Biles was an Associated Press reporter. Sebelius has said that she has relied on Biles for legal advice since becoming governor. What was noted that Biles during the 2002 Governor's Campaign gave over $1,000 to Sebelius and his wife gave over $1200 from 2002 to 2006 raising the question if patronage in financial terms to Governor Sebelius played a role in his appointment over sound judicial experience.
; the Kansas Association for Justice, and the Johnson County
Bar Association. In addition to his work in the legal community, Biles serves as the director of Community Living Opportunities, Inc., which is a not-for-profit organization serving more than 370 children and adults with severe developmental disabilities specializing in residential, day programs, and case management in Kansas.
Kansas Supreme Court
The Kansas Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority in the state of Kansas. Composed of seven justices, led by Chief Justice Lawton Nuss, the Court supervises the legal profession, administers over the judicial branch, and serves as the state court of last resort in the appeals...
. Biles was appointed on January 7, 2009, by Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius
Kathleen Sebelius
Kathleen Sebelius is an American politician currently serving as the 21st Secretary of Health and Human Services. She was the second female Governor of Kansas from 2003 to 2009, the Democratic respondent to the 2008 State of the Union address, and chair-emerita of the Democratic Governors...
to replace retiring Chief Justice Kay McFarland
Kay McFarland
Kay McFarland is the former Chief Justice of the Kansas Supreme Court. During her 35 years as a judge she broke many gender barriers in Kansas. She was the first female elected to a judgeship in Shawnee County, Kansas, first appointed to the state Supreme Court, and first to hold the title of chief...
.
Early life and education
Biles who is a native Kansan, graduated with his bachelor’s degree in journalism from Kansas State University in 1975 and his juris doctorate from Washburn University School of Law in 1980.Legal career
Before becoming a practicing attorney, Biles was a reporter for the Associated Press Kansas Division from 1975 to 1980. After graduating from Law School, Biles joined the Kansas Attorney General's Office from 1980 to 1985 before entering into private practice work as a private practice attorney licensed in the State of Kansas.Biles, in 1985, became a partner of the law firm of Gates, Biles & Shields, P.A., which is based in Overland Park, KS
Overland Park, Kansas
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 149,080 people, 59,703 households, and 39,702 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,627.0 people per square mile . There were 62,586 housing units at an average density of 1,102.9 per square mile...
. Biles focused his legal practice in the areas of Commercial Litigation, Education Law, Administrative Law, Appellate Practice, Real Estate Transaction, Employment Law, Transportation, Municipal Financing, Civil Rights, First Amendment Cases, and Media Law.
Biles while in private practice work was active in political endeavors as he was a member of the Kansas Turnpike Authority Board and also on the Kansas State Board of Education.
Kansas Supreme Court
Biles was one of three candidates recommended by the Kansas Supreme Court Nominating Commission to Kansas Governor Kathleen SebeliusKathleen Sebelius
Kathleen Sebelius is an American politician currently serving as the 21st Secretary of Health and Human Services. She was the second female Governor of Kansas from 2003 to 2009, the Democratic respondent to the 2008 State of the Union address, and chair-emerita of the Democratic Governors...
. On January 7, 2009, Biles was appointed by Governor Sebelius; the other two choices recommended by the Kansas Supreme Court Nominating Commission were the Chief Judge of the Douglas County
Douglas County, Kansas
Douglas County is a county located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 110,826...
Court Robert Fairchild and Kansas Court of Appeals Judge Tom Malone
Tom Malone (judge)
Tom Malone is a judge on the Kansas Court of Appeals. He has judged on this court since 2003.Tom Malone is a judge on the Kansas Court of Appeals. He has judged on this court since 2003....
.
Possible Questions of Biles Appointment to the Supreme Court
The appointment of Daniel Biles has been met with a firestorm of criticism from many judicial conservatives over his lack of judicial experience and also from many ethics watchdog groups over his campaign contributions to Governor Kathleen SebeliusKathleen Sebelius
Kathleen Sebelius is an American politician currently serving as the 21st Secretary of Health and Human Services. She was the second female Governor of Kansas from 2003 to 2009, the Democratic respondent to the 2008 State of the Union address, and chair-emerita of the Democratic Governors...
and the Kansas Democratic Party.
Transparency records from KanView show that during the 2008 Fiscal year that Biles was the recipient of over $360,000 of contacts for legal representation for the Kansas Department of Education, Kansas State Lottery, and the Kansas Department of Transportation. The amount that Biles has received from Kansas state contracts along with Biles and his wife and other partners in his law firm giving very generous donations to Governor Kathleen Sebelius and also other prominent candidates, including Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
for President, raise the question if Biles received the appointment on the basis of being a financially generous donor to Kathleen Sebelius.
It has been noted by the Kansas City Star that Governor Sebelius and her husband have been friends of Biles for more than three decades, starting when the Governor's husband was an attorney for the Topeka School District and Biles was an Associated Press reporter. Sebelius has said that she has relied on Biles for legal advice since becoming governor. What was noted that Biles during the 2002 Governor's Campaign gave over $1,000 to Sebelius and his wife gave over $1200 from 2002 to 2006 raising the question if patronage in financial terms to Governor Sebelius played a role in his appointment over sound judicial experience.
Associations and Memberships
Biles is a member of the National Council of State Education Attorneys, the Kansas Bar AssociationKansas Bar Association
The Kansas Bar Association is a voluntary, non-profit bar association for the state of Kansas with the headquarters located at 12th and Harrison St. in Topeka. The KBA has approximately 7,000 members and was founded in 1882.- Membership :...
; the Kansas Association for Justice, and the Johnson County
Johnson County, Kansas
Johnson County is a county located in northeast Kansas, in the central United States. The county is largely suburban, being part of the Kansas City metropolitan area, and containing many of its affluent southwestern suburbs. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 544,179. Its county...
Bar Association. In addition to his work in the legal community, Biles serves as the director of Community Living Opportunities, Inc., which is a not-for-profit organization serving more than 370 children and adults with severe developmental disabilities specializing in residential, day programs, and case management in Kansas.
External links
- http://www.kscourts.org
- http://www.kansas.gov