Anthony J. Powell
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Anthony J. Powell | |
|---|---|
| Judge of the Kansas Court of Appeals | |
| In office January 12, 2013 – June 30, 2022 | |
| Appointed by | Sam Brownback |
| Preceded by | Richard D. Greene |
| Succeeded by | Rachel L. Pickering |
| Judge of the Kansas District Court for Sedgwick County | |
| In office 2003 – January 12, 2013 | |
| Member of the Kansas House of Representatives from the 85th district | |
| In office 1995 – January 13, 2003 | |
| Preceded by | Richard Lahti |
| Succeeded by | Steve Brunk |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Anthony John Powell[1] January 5, 1962 Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Education | George Washington University, B.A. Washburn University School of Law, J.D. |
Anthony J. Powell (born January 5, 1962) is a former judge of the Kansas Court of Appeals who has served as Solicitor General of Kansas since 2022. In 2026, he was nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Kansas.
Powell was born on January 5, 1962, in Saint Paul, Minnesota. He received his Bachelor of Arts in political science from George Washington University in 1985 and his Juris Doctor from Washburn University School of Law in 1991.[2]
Legal career
From 2002, until his appointment to the Kansas Court of Appeals, Powell served as a judge for the Eighteenth Judicial District, which serves Sedgwick County. Prior to that, he was a member of the Kansas House of Representatives for eight years where he served as majority whip, and as chairman of several committees including Federal and State Affairs, Ethics and Elections, and the Joint Committee on State-Tribal Relations. He also served as vice-chairman of the Taxation Committee.[3] Prior to his House service, he practiced law with the firm of Martin and Churchill.[2] He also served as legislative director to U.S. Representative William Broomfield and as an intern on the staff of Senator Bob Dole.[3]
In 2003, he was appointed as a judge on Sedgwick County District Court. He served in that role until early 2013.
Kansas Court of Appeals
Powell was appointed to the court by Kansas Governor Sam Brownback on January 12, 2013.[4] He was appointed to the seat on the Kansas Court of Appeals formerly held by the late Chief Judge Richard D. Greene.[2] He was retained by voters in 2014.[5] Powell retired from the Kansas Court of Appeals on June 30, 2022.[6] On August 26, 2022, Governor Laura Kelly nominated Judge Rachel L. Pickering as Powell's successor.[7] Pickering was unanimously confirmed by the Kansas Senate on January 22, 2023.[8]
Consideration for Kansas Supreme Court
In 2014, Powell was one of fourteen candidates who applied for a seat on the Kansas Supreme Court vacated by Nancy Moritz.[9]
Kansas Solicitor General
On December 18, 2022, Powell was named the Kansas Solicitor General, Kansas' top appellate attorney, by then Kansas Attorney General-elect Kris Kobach.[10] Following the start of Kobach's term, Powell succeeded Brant Laue as Kansas Solicitor General on January 9, 2023.[11][12]
Nomination for U.S. District Court
On February 18, 2026, President Donald Trump announced that he would nominate Powell to serve as a federal judge on the United States District Court for the District of Kansas.[13]
