The Hon. Rachel Pickering
Appointed 2022, Judge
Judge Rachel Pickering is the first Hispanic to serve on the Court of Appeals. She comes to the Court following service as a district court judge in Kansas’ 3rd Judicial District. Prior to joining the bench, she was assistant solicitor general in the Attorney General's Office and assistant district attorney in Shawnee County. She also spent a decade in criminal defense, both at the appellate and trial levels. She specialized in intellectual property earlier in her career. She earned her law degree from the University of Missouri School of Law in 2003, with a certificate in e-commerce and intellectual property. She is an adjunct professor at Washburn University School of Law.
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Survey Methodology
The survey aimed to provide an objective assessment of the judges' effectiveness, impartiality, and professionalism based on feedback from Kansas lawyers. Surveys were distributed to more than 16,000 licensed Kansas lawyers. Survey respondents were asked to participate only if they had direct and personal knowledge of the judge’s qualifications during their current term of office.
For the Overall Rating, Retention Recommendation, and Detailed Measures of Performance, a numeric score is assigned to each categorical survey response. For example, in Overall Ratings, these scores range from 0 = “Very Poor” to 100 = “Very Good,” where a score of 50 represents an "Average" rating. For the retention recommendation, a similar procedure is followed, where a score of 50 represents a neutral response (neither for nor against retention). Scores above 50 indicate positive overall ratings and support for retention, while scores below 50 indicate negative or less favorable ratings.
We encourage readers to review these results carefully, along with other available information, to ensure a well-rounded understanding of each judge’s record and contributions to the judicial system. The integrity of our judicial process relies on an informed electorate. We are grateful to our partners and IPSR for their role in supporting Your Kansas Judges and the Judicial Survey Project.
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