By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
After 28 years serving as a judge in Barton County, Chief Judge Mike
Keeley is officially retired. Keeley announced his retirement early last year
and worked his final day representing the 20th Judicial District
Jan. 11, 2021.
Keeley graduated from Washburn University School of Law then came back to Great
Bend as an attorney with Jerry Ward and Tom Berscheidt. After serving as an
attorney for 10 years, Keeley was approached with the idea of running for a
judge position and was successful in 1992.
Keeley noted one of the bigger
changes in law over his career, along with technology, was the change in
criminal sentencing.
"The legislature said we are going to come up with a grid and you shall sentence them to this," Keeley said. "People would always come up to me later and say 'you let this guy off.' Well, talk to your legislator. They said a guy that did not commit a violent crime has multiple tries before you put him in jail. After I explained it to them, they were pretty good about it."
Keeley has served as the Chief Judge presiding over cases in Barton, Ellsworth,
Rice, Russell and Stafford counties for the past 14 years.
He mentioned that
jurors were always good at figuring out right from wrong. Looking back at more
of his high-profile cases over the years, Keeley says those trials bring about
some pressure to make sure everyone’s rights are being met.
"When I have to make a decision from a court trial or sentencing, that is pretty stressful," said Keeley. "I am putting someone's life in my hands. Do I send them to prison? Do I give them one more chance? The domestic side with who gets the kids. Those are really hard and it takes a toll on you."
Keeley and his wife plan to stay in Great Bend and he mentioned they want to do
some traveling once the COVID-19 pandemic is more under control. He plans to
stay involved in the community, including youth sports with his grandchildren.
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