Oct 04, 2016
Judge Karen Arnold-Burger
Civics Education National Assoc. of Women Judges

Judge Karen Arnold-Burger became a member of the Kansas Court of Appeals in February 2011 after serving 20 years as the Presiding Judge of the Overland Park Municipal Court.  She previously served as First Assistant City Attorney for Overland Park and Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Kansas.  She is also a former president of the Johnson County Bar Association, the Earl E. O'Connor Inn of Court, and the Kansas Municipal Judges Association.  In 2006, she received the Justinian Award from the Johnson County Bar Association exemplifying her integrity and service to the community and the legal profession.  Judge Arnold-Burger taught for 15 years at the National Judicial College in Reno, Nevada where she was elected by her fellow faculty members to its Faculty Council.  She has presented judicial educations programs around the country on topics as diverse as traffic law, racial profiling and disproportionate minority confinement, collateral consequences of criminal convictions, including immigration consequences, and legal issues related to jury selection and deliberation.  In 2015 she received the American Bar Association Burnham "Hod" Greeley Award "in honor of her significant positive impact on public understanding of the role of the judiciary in a democratic society and its importance to the rule of law." She currently serves on the ABA Judicial Division Taskforce on Implicit Bias. In 2016, the Topeka Bar Association honored her with its highest award, the Warren W. Shaw Distinguished Service Award for exemplary service to the legal profession.  She is a graduate of the University of Kansas School of Law. She and her husband Kurt, who were high school sweethearts, have been married for 37 years.  They have three amazing adult children and one brilliant granddaughter.Judge Karen Arnold-Burger became a member of the Kansas Court of Appeals in February 2011 after serving 20 years as the Presiding Judge of the Overland Park Municipal Court.  She previously served as First Assistant City Attorney for Overland Park and Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Kansas.  She is also a former president of the Johnson County Bar Association, the Earl E. O'Connor Inn of Court, and the Kansas Municipal Judges Association.  In 2006, she received the Justinian Award from the Johnson County Bar Association exemplifying her integrity and service to the community and the legal profession.  Judge Arnold-Burger taught for 15 years at the National Judicial College in Reno, Nevada where she was elected by her fellow faculty members to its Faculty Council.  She has presented judicial educations programs around the country on topics as diverse as traffic law, racial profiling and disproportionate minority confinement, collateral consequences of criminal convictions, including immigration consequences, and legal issues related to jury selection and deliberation.  In 2015 she received the American Bar Association Burnham "Hod" Greeley Award "in honor of her significant positive impact on public understanding of the role of the judiciary in a democratic society and its importance to the rule of law." She currently serves on the ABA Judicial Division Taskforce on Implicit Bias. In 2016, the Topeka Bar Association honored her with its highest award, the Warren W. Shaw Distinguished Service Award for exemplary service to the legal profession.  She is a graduate of the University of Kansas School of Law. She and her husband Kurt, who were high school sweethearts, have been married for 37 years.  They have three amazing adult children and one brilliant granddaughter.