Jackson County judges confirm concerns over misuse of funds

An internal investigation into the possible misuse of Jackson County court funds has been turned over to law enforcement authorities, the county’s top judge said Tuesday.

Jackson County Circuit Court officials announced in June said that they were looking into what they described as “concerns regarding the expenditure of court funds.”

At the time, they said that the court’s top administrator, Teresa L. York, had been placed on administrative leave. In July, York submitted her resignation, which the county’s judges accepted.

In a written statement released Tuesday, Presiding Judge Charles E. Atwell said the court had hired independent outside professionals, including a forensic accountant, to conduct the internal investigation.

“The court has now largely concluded its internal investigation and confirmed the initial concerns which led to the investigation,” Atwell said.

The court did not disclose which law enforcement agency was involved, and Atwell said the court could not make additional comments.

York had worked at the courthouse since 1984 and became court administrator in 2003.

Kansas City attorney John Kurtz, who is representing York, declined to comment Tuesday.

The court administrator supervises all of the non-judicial functions of the court, including human resources, records-keeping and information systems. The court has about 800 employees.

Jeff Eisenbeis has been appointed as interim court administrator and is working to “review and strengthen” the court’s controls regarding court expenditures, according to the statement.