Voters will decide Nov. 7 whether to retain the following judges in Douglas County:

Jean Shepherd

Jean Shepherd has been a Douglas County District Court judge since 1984. Voters will decide whether to retain her when they cast ballots Nov. 7.

Shepherd presides over cases involving juvenile offenders and children in foster care. She has been a speaker and writer on a number of issues concerning child welfare. She also has served on a number of state and county juvenile task forces and advisory committees.

Shepherd was an English teacher during the late 1960s and early 1970s in the Kansas City, Kan., school district. She received her law degree from Kansas University in 1977.

Shepherd was an assistant Douglas County district attorney from 1977 to 1981. She had a private law practice with Barber, Emerson, Springer & Zinn until 1984, when she became a judge.

Douglas County district attorney from 1977 to 1981. She had a private law practice with Barber, Emerson, Springer & Zinn until 1984, when she became a judge.

Robert Fairchild

It’s been 10 years since Robert Fairchild was appointed judge in Douglas County District Court.

On Nov. 7, voters will decide whether to retain him.

A graduate of Kansas University law school, Fairchild had a private practice in Lawrence before becoming a judge. He also served as Douglas County counselor and was a pro-tem judge in the district court.

During the past few years, Fairchild has been the court’s chief judge in the Seventh Judicial District. He is responsible for day-to-day operation of the district, which includes more than 80 employees and a court administrator. He also hears civil and criminal cases.

Fairchild is on the advisory council to the Kansas Corporation Commission and is one of 14 people who have applied to fill a vacancy on the Kansas Supreme Court that will open when Justice Donald Allegrucci retires in January.

Stephen Six

In January 2005, Stephen Six became Douglas County’s newest district court judge when he was appointed by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.

Six was the first to be named to the court’s new Division Six, which was created to handle an ever-growing caseload.

For the Nov. 7 election, Six’s name will be on the ballot for voters to determine whether he should be retained as judge.

At the time he was appointed, Six was a partner in the Kansas City, Mo., law firm of Shamberg, Johnson & Bergman. He represented plaintiffs in personal-injury and product-liability cases.

He is the son of retired Kansas Supreme Court Justice Fred Six. He grew up in Lawrence and has lived here most of his life. He clerked for U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Deanell Tacha.