Olathe High School Class of 1964

(May 16, 1947 —       )

Prior to his appointment to the Kansas Court of Appeals in 1990, Joe was assistant county attorney and district attorney in Johnson County, a Spring Hill municipal judge, and an Olathe district judge. He is a charter member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution section of the Kansas Bar Association and former chair of the group’s Supreme Court committee. He has been an advocate for Kansas children almost 40 years, serving as president of the Committee for the Prevention of Child Abuse, board member of the Children’s Service League, chair of the Children and Youth Advocacy committee, chair of Kids Voting Kansas, and on the Commission on Children, Youth and Families, and the Central States Judicial Council on Child Support Enforcement. He has received numerous national and state awards, most recently the 2009 Boy’s State Governor’s Award for Outstanding Leadership, Public Service and Dedication to Youth.