Doug Jones of Cottonwood Falls has been appointed Magistrate Judge in the Fifth Judicial District. As magistrate judge, Jones will hear misdemeanor criminal cases, first appearances and preliminary hearings in felony cases.
Douglas P. Jones needs to shed the mantle of practicing attorney before he can put on the robe of magistrate judge.
Jones, a partner with Charlie Rayl in Rayl & Jones LLC of Cottonwood Falls, was selected on Monday to replace Magistrate Judge John Conklin, who will retire on Friday.
“There’s a period of transition for me to get out of private practice,” Jones said this week.
He expects to begin as magistrate in January, though the date has not yet been determined.
In the interim, current district judges — Merlin Wheeler, chief judge; Lee Fowler and Jeffry Larson — will fill in as magistrate and others may be brought in as needed, according to Court Administrator Ruth Wheeler.
“They have to use a pro tem, or a lot of time, Judge Sanderson can come back,” Wheeler said. “Judge like they would with any of the judges being gone on vacation.”
Jones is eager to begin his new job on the other side of the judicial bench.
“I’ve practiced in all those types of cases, have experience in those types of issues, and so I think that’s what attracted me to the position,” Jones said.
Magistrate judges carry a heavy docket load, hearing misdemeanor criminal cases, first appearances and sometimes felony preliminary hearings.
“I will also be hearing juvenile offender cases, child in need of care cases, ... probate cases,” he said.
Jones grew up on a farm outside Wetmore, in Nemaha County adjacent to the Kansas-Nebraska line.
He came to Emporia for his bachelor’s degree and graduated from Emporia State University in 1997. After working for two years for then-Kansas Insurance Commissioner Kathleen Sebelius, he attended Washburn University School of Law and received his degree in 2002.
“I went right to work for Charlie Rayl and have been here in this office ever since,” Jones said.
The partnership has kept Jones busy, representing clients not only in Lyon and Chase counties, but in the Eighth Judicial District in Morris, Marion and Dickinson counties.
It’s been work that he’s enjoyed, but, at the age of 34, becoming a judge was an option that held appeal.
“I think the biggest reason was the opportunity to serve,” Jones said. “I’ve always had interest in serving. We have very good judges, in the present and in the past, in the Fifth Judicial District.”
Cases for the magistrate judge currently are heard in Lyon County all day on Mondays and Wednesdays and afternoons on Tuesdays and Thursdays; in Chase County, the schedule is Tuesday and Thursday mornings and all day on Fridays.
Jones will meet with the district judges to discuss schedules and any changes that may need to be implemented. Most of the magistrate judge’s job, however, is not subject to change.
“Generally, the position is proscribed by statute and I take further direction from the chief judge of the district,” Jones said.
And Jones is eager to begin doing that.
“I’ll miss practicing law with my law partner, Charlie Rayl,” Jones said. “I’m looking forward to becoming a judge. It will be a busy job, but I look forward to getting to work.”
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Posted by JayJazz (anonymous) on December 11, 2008 at 2:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Congrats to Doug and his family! Doug will be a hardworking, honest and fair judge... the Fifth Judicial District is lucky to have him.
Posted by birch (anonymous) on December 11, 2008 at 8:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Judge Jones in principled and ethically grounded. He is a good choice for the district bench.
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