Lawrence resident sworn in as first Black woman on Kansas Court of Appeals

photo by: Kansas Court of Appeals

Jacy Hurst, of Lawrence, speaks to the gallery after she was sworn in as a judge on the Kansas Court of Appeals on Aug. 13, 2021. Hurst is the first woman of color to serve on the court.

A Lawrence resident made history on Friday when she was sworn in as the newest judge on the Kansas Court of Appeals.

Jacy J. Hurst, who was appointed to the position earlier this year, was sworn in as the first woman of color to take a seat on the judicial panel. She was surrounded by family and friends during a ceremony in the court on Friday.

The Court of Appeals’ chief judge, Karen Arnold-Burger, briefly became emotional when noting Hurst’s historic position.

“She is the first Black woman to serve on the appellate courts of Kansas, an historic first we are so proud to witness during our tenure,” Arnold-Burger said.

Gov. Laura Kelly earlier this year appointed Hurst to the court to fill the vacancy that was created by the elevation of former Court of Appeals Judge Melissa Standridge to the Kansas Supreme Court. She was previously a partner with the law firm Kutak Rock LLP in Kansas City, Mo.

“I’m committed to serving Kansas with the utmost dedication to the equitable application of the law, and I’m grateful for the opportunity,” Hurst said after she took her seat on the panel.

photo by: Kansas Court of Appeals

Lawrence resident Jacy Hurst, center, is sworn in as a judge on the Kansas Court of Appeals on Friday, Aug. 13, 2021. Hurst is the first woman of color to serve on the court.

Hurst graduated from the University of Kansas School of Law in 2006 and began her legal career in 2007 with the Kansas City firm of Stinson LLP as a commercial litigator defending clients throughout the country in product liability, insurance coverage, business tort and employment discrimination cases, the Journal-World previously reported.

In 2014, she became general counsel and chief compliance officer at Swope Health Services. Since 2017, Hurst has practiced at Kutak Rock LLP, representing a wide variety of clients. Her practice focused on health care transactions and regulatory law and employment litigation and counseling. Throughout her career, Hurst has also provided pro bono legal services to individuals in criminal cases and family law cases.

Hurst also currently serves as secretary on the board of directors for Douglas County United Way, according to the organization’s website.


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