Governor picks Lawrence resident for Kansas Court of Appeals; if confirmed, she would be first woman of color on the court

photo by: Contributed Photo

Jacy J. Hurst

TOPEKA – Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly on Thursday appointed Jacy J. Hurst, of Lawrence, to fill the vacancy on the Kansas Court of Appeals that was created by the elevation of former Court of Appeals Judge Melissa Standridge to the Kansas Supreme Court.

Hurst is currently a partner with the law firm Kutak Rock LLP in Kansas City, Mo. If confirmed by the Kansas Senate, she would be the first woman of color on the Kansas Court of Appeals.

“Jacy will be a great asset and hardworking judge on the Court of Appeals,” Kelly said in a news release Thursday. “She is a lifelong Kansan who has not only excelled performing high-level work at some of Kansas City’s most competitive law firms, she also has the heart of a public servant.”

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, according to the release. 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 focuses 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, the release said.

“I am incredibly honored to have the opportunity to serve our state as a Court of Appeals judge,” Hurst said in the release. “I have spent my career helping large and small businesses and individuals resolve complex legal issues, and have seen the impact the law can have on people’s lives and businesses. As a Court of Appeals judge, my highest duty will be to hear each case and apply the law, as written, fairly and uniformly.”

Hurst also is the chair of the board of directors for Douglas County United Way.