By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Changes are coming to the 20th Judicial District that serves Barton, Ellsworth, Russell, Rice, and Stafford counties. The upcoming retirement by the Hon. Steve Johnson leaves a position for a new judge in the district. Ellinwood's Donald E. Anderson II is the first candidate to file for district judge on the Republican ticket for the Aug. 6 primary.
"The law has always been a part of my life, even growing up, with my father being an attorney," Anderson said. "I feel like this is the next logical step in continuing a lifelong career in the law."
Anderson spent most of 12 years living in Ellinwood from 1985 to 1997. He graduated from Ellinwood High School and moved to Arizona where he earned his undergraduate degree. He returned to Kansas and earned his law degree from Washburn University in Topeka. He moved back to Ellinwood in 2008, and now continues to reside there with his wife and two young children. Anderson has worked in all facets of the law, and now operates out of his own law firm located in Great Bend.
"Though I'm probably most known locally for my criminal defense work, I actually have had a robust private practice in all areas of the law," he said. "I feel most accomplished in all the many areas of the law I was able to help my clients in."
The 2024 primary election is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 6. The winners of the primary election will advance to the general election held on Tuesday, Nov. 5.