Judge appointed to Geary County bench
Staff writer
Dickinson County magistrate judge Keith Collett was appointed by governor Laura Kelly Friday to serve as district judge in Geary County.
Collett practiced law in Marion from 1989 to 2012 before he became a magistrate for Dickinson County.
He will fill a vacancy created by the retirement of judge Steven Hornbaker.
“I am eager to serve as a district judge in Geary County and will try to bring my expertise, patience, encouragement, and collegiality to the bench every day,” Collett said. “The mission of the judge is to be the face and voice of law in the courtroom, and I am honored to step into this role as a district judge.”
Kelly said his experience on the bench was the deciding factor.
“Judge Collett has demonstrated his legal expertise and service to his community for nearly a decade as a magistrate judge,” Kelly said. “I am confident he will be an even greater asset to the 8th Judicial District as a district judge.”
He will stand for retention election every four years.
Collett was one of three nominees for the position. The others were Geary County Attorney Krista Blaisdell and Morris County attorney Laura Viar.