Former Kansas attorney general Steve Six is joining as a partner the law firm of Stueve Siegel Hanson, which is based in Kansas City, Mo., it was announced Wednesday.

“I have known Steve for a long time, and his reputation, skill and integrity as a lawyer and judge are second to none,” said partner George Hanson.

Six and Hanson were classmates in Lawrence High School’s 1984 graduating class.

Six, a Democrat, was defeated in the 2010 election by Derek Schmidt, a Republican state senator. This year, Six was nominated by President Barack Obama to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. But Six’s nomination was blocked by Kansas’ U.S. Sens. Pat Roberts and Jerry Moran, both Republicans.

In 2008, then-Gov. Kathleen Sebelius picked Six, who had been a district judge in Douglas County, to replace Paul Morrison, who left office during a sex scandal.

While attorney general, Six successfully prosecuted capital and first-degree murder cases, argued before the U.S. Supreme Court in water litigation and represented the state in numerous other areas.

“Steve is a rare find — a lawyer who has represented plaintiffs in complex litigation, served as a judge, and as the chief law enforcement officer of the state,” said partner Patrick Stueve.

Six will work in the law firm’s commercial litigation, public client and personal injury practices.