Gov. Sam Brownback appoints first African-American judge in Johnson County

An Overland Park attorney was named Tuesday as Johnson County’s first African-American judge.

Rhonda K. Mason was appointed by Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback to replace retiring Johnson County District Judge Gerald Elliott. Kansas court officials said she is only the second African-American woman to be named a judge in the state.

Mason, who lives in Olathe and has an office in Overland Park, was among three finalists chosen by the Johnson County Judicial Nominating Commission.

In a written statement announcing his selection of Mason, the governor said he was pleased to make the appointment.

“Ms. Mason’s experience well qualifies her to serve the citizens of the 10th district (Johnson County,)” Brownback said.

Mason is a 1996 graduate of the Washburn University Law School in Topeka.

From 1998 to 2003, Mason was an assistant prosecuting attorney in Jackson County, according to her LinkedIn profile.

She later served as an attorney for Allstate and the Kansas City law firm of Foland Wickens.

Since 2011, Mason has served as managing attorney for Geico and also operated a private civil litigation practice focusing on personal injury cases, according to LinkedIn.

This story was originally published December 13, 2016 at 4:01 PM with the headline "Gov. Sam Brownback appoints first African-American judge in Johnson County."