Several area chief judges across Kansas were reappointed Monday.
The list includes Fifth District Judge Merlin Wheeler, who has been overseeing court operations for Lyon and Chase counties since 1998. Wheeler served as Emporia’s city attorney from 1977-1980, joined the private firm Perkins and Hollembeak, Chartered, after that and owned Merlin Wheeler Chartered from 1988 until he was appointed as a Lyon County judge in 1990.
Areawide, the list of reappointments includes:
*Jeffrey Elder, chief judge of the Second District involving Wabaunsee County since 2020
*Taylor Wine, chief judge of the Fourth District involving Coffey and Osage counties since 2019
*Benjamin Sexton, chief judge of the Eighth District involving Morris County since August
*David Ricke, chief judge of the 13th District involving Greenwood County since 2012
Terms will be effective from New Year’s Day 2022 through New Year’s Eve 2023.
