Sebelius names Melissa Taylor Standridge to Kansas Court of Appeals

Governor Kathleen Sebelius has named Melissa Taylor Standridge to the Kansas Court of Appeals, citing her extensive litigation and court experience, as well as her involvement in the community and commitment to the children of Kansas.

“Melissa’s years of experience with the judiciary and her work in private practice will be beneficial as she joins the Court of Appeals,” Sebelius said. “With strong ties to her community and a breadth of legal experience, I am confident Melissa will serve the people of Kansas well.” 

Standridge, Overland Park, earned an undergraduate degree in business administration from the University of Kansas in 1984 and a juris doctorate from the University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Law in 1993.

Upon earning her law degree, Standridge worked as chambers counsel to the Honorable Elmo Hunter in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri. From 1995 through 1999, Standridge represented plaintiffs and defendants in over 100 state and federal court cases while working as an attorney at Shook, Hardy, & Bacon, L.L.P.

Currently Standridge serves as Chambers Counsel to the Honorable David Waxse, United States Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court for the District of Kansas. In the 8 years with Judge Waxse, Standridge has been responsible for analysis and resolution in hundreds of cases, and has written over 300 proposed opinions, activities which prepare her well for the duties of the Kansas Court of Appeals.

Standridge earned the Sandra Day O’Connor Award for Professional Service in 2004 and earned the Outstanding Service Award from the Kansas Bar Association in 2001.

In addition to her professional activities, she has also been incredibly active in the community. She has worked tirelessly on efforts to help families with foster care and adoptive opportunities. Standridge has been a foster mother since 2000, and is an adoptive mother to three children who were initially her foster children: Sergio, Clinton and Anna.  She has also given her time and talent to the Midwest Foster Care and Adoption Association, Habitat for Humanity, the Myasthenia Gravis Association, and other community needs. She is married to Richard Standridge.

The Kansas Court of Appeals is located in Topeka in the Kansas Judicial Center and is an intermediate appellate court. The Court of Appeals hears all appeals from orders of the Kansas Corporation Commission, and all appeals from the district courts in both civil and criminal cases, except those which may be appealed directly to the Kansas Supreme Court.  It also has jurisdiction over original actions in habeas corpus.

The court may hear appeals en banc (all 13 judges) but the court usually sits in panels of three. The Court of Appeals may sit anywhere in the state. Hearings are scheduled regularly in Hays, Garden City, Wichita, Chanute, Kansas City, Olathe, and Topeka, and hearings have also been held in other cities for the convenience of the parties.

Standridge fills a new position created by the Legislature in 2007.

# # #