By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Current Barton County Attorney Levi Morris has seen the gamut of law practice in Kansas. He practiced various aspects of civil law in his hometown of Newton before being hired as an assistant with the Barton County Attorney's Office. He later opened his own firm, focusing primarily on criminal cases, then was appointed as Barton County Attorney in 2018. He's hoping to continue the progression as a candidate for district judge in the 20th Judicial District.
"At some point, it's the good old American dream," he said. "You work hard for the company and, after having done a good job, you feel comfortable asking for a promotion and more responsibility. While it's not exactly the same model as working for a corporation, it's the same idea. We have x amount of attorneys in the county and not all of them get to be judges. I've not been shy to run on my credentials of what I've done after taking over as county attorney. I think I've earned the opportunity to do more."
Morris ran his private practice for four years before moving into the county attorney's office. In 2020, he lost a primary election for a district judge spot. With no candidates on the county attorney ballot, he ran a successful write-in campaign where he collected nearly 1,700 votes in the general election to retain his office. He now brings even more experience to the judicial ballot.
'We have three district court judges in the district and it's interesting that none of them have ever been (elected as) prosecutor," Morris said. "None of them have ever been charged with public safety. I think the voters would like to see one of our three spots, perhaps when appropriate, be somebody with prosecution experience."
In his six years as county attorney, Morris has reduced office size, maintained the same level of felony convictions despite filing fewer cases, and nearly tripled the number of felony convictions that require either drug, sex, or violent offender registration.
Morris lives in Great Bend with his wife, Chelsea, and their two sons, Warren and Theodore.
Donald E. Anderson II has also filed as a candidate to fill the vacancy left by the upcoming retirement of the Hon. Steve Johnson. The winner of the Aug. 6 primary will advance to the general election in November.