Former Lyon County chief judge Merlin Wheeler has obtained a state honor for judicial excellence.
The Kansas Courts System announced Wheeler has received the Kansas District Judges Association Award for Judicial Excellence. Wheeler retired from the Lyon County District Court bench in August after over 30 years of legal service as judge, including 25 years as the Fifth District’s chief judge. He became a senior judge after retirement, traveling the state to adjudicate cases as needed.
Wheeler graduated from Dodge City Community College, Emporia State University and Washburn University’s School of Law. He served as Emporia city attorney and a private attorney before becoming a judge. Wheeler is also a Leadership Kansas graduate and has taken courses from the National Judicial College.
The Kansas District Judges Association Award for Judicial Excellence is bestowed on a current of prior member of the state judiciary wo has “served with integrity, dignity and honor and has conscientiously performed their judicial duties to promote and elevate confidence and trust in the judicial branch.”
