Kay McFarland
Encyclopedia
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 justice.
to Dr. Kenneth and Margaret McFarland. In 1957 she graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts
in English and history-political science at Washburn University
. She earned her Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1964 at Washburn University School of Law
.
In January 1973 she won the election to become judge of the newly created Fifth Division of the District Court in Topeka. On September 19, 1977 she was appointed to the Kansas Supreme Court by Governor Robert F. Bennett
becoming the state's first female Supreme Court justice. On September 1, 1995 she became Kansas's first female chief justice, replacing the retiring Hon. Richard Holmes. She resigned on January 12, 2009 due to state laws mandating retirement after the age of 70.
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
of the Kansas Supreme Court
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...
. 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
Shawnee County, Kansas
Shawnee County is a county located in northeast Kansas, in the central United States of America. Its most populous city, Topeka, is the state capital and county seat. The county's population was 177,934 for the 2010 census...
, first appointed to the state Supreme Court, and first to hold the title of chief justice.
Personal life
Kay McFarland was born on July 20, 1935, in Topeka, KansasKansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
to Dr. Kenneth and Margaret McFarland. In 1957 she graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in English and history-political science at Washburn University
Washburn University
Washburn University is a co-educational, public institution of higher learning in Topeka, Kansas, USA. It offers undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as professional programs in law and business. Washburn has 550 faculty members, who teach more than 6,400 undergraduate students and...
. She earned her Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1964 at Washburn University School of Law
Washburn University School of Law
The Washburn University School of Law, commonly referred to as Washburn Law, is a public law school located on the main campus of Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. Washburn Law was founded in 1903. The school has 79 faculty members and 445 students...
.
Professional life
McFarland was admitted to the Kansas Bar and entered into private practice in 1964 in Topeka. In 1971, she was elected judge of the probate and juvenile courts of Shawnee County, becoming the first woman elected to a judgeship in that county.In January 1973 she won the election to become judge of the newly created Fifth Division of the District Court in Topeka. On September 19, 1977 she was appointed to the Kansas Supreme Court by Governor Robert F. Bennett
Robert Frederick Bennett
Robert Frederick Bennett was an American lawyer and the 39th Governor of Kansas from 1975 to 1979.Bennett was born May 23, 1927 in Kansas City, Missouri. He married Joan Gregory, whom he met at Shawnee Mission Rural High School while participating in debate. They had four children: Robert F. ,...
becoming the state's first female Supreme Court justice. On September 1, 1995 she became Kansas's first female chief justice, replacing the retiring Hon. Richard Holmes. She resigned on January 12, 2009 due to state laws mandating retirement after the age of 70.