Michael Gibbens
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Michael Gibbens is a judge for the First Judicial District in Kansas. He was appointed in November 2008.[1][2]
Elections
2014
Gibbens was retained to District 1 with 63.6 percent of the vote on November 4, 2014. [2]
2010
Gibbens was retained to the district court with 62.9% of the vote in 2010.[3][4]
- See also: Kansas judicial elections, 2010
Education
Gibbens is a graduate of Baker University and Washburn University School of Law.[1]
Career
Gibbens previously worked in private practice and as an attorney for Legal Services For Prisoners, Inc. He also served as an assistant attorney in Leavenworth County and as a municipal judge in the City of Linwood.[1]
Noteworthy cases
Sentencing and comments in sex solicitation case (2018)
In December 2018, Gibbens sentenced Raymond Soden, aged 67, to five years, 10 months in prison. Soden was found guilty of soliciting a 13-year-old and 14-year-old girl online and paying the girls for sex. Prosecutors had asked for a 13-year sentence, arguing Soden had prior convictions for battery and sexual battery.[5]
At the sentencing, Gibbens said, "I do find that the victims in this case, in particular, were more an aggressor than a participant in the criminal conduct."[5]
Michelle Herman, president and CEO of Sunflower House, said, "Sexual assault is never the victim’s fault. It doesn’t matter what the girls did or didn’t do, [Soden] is still the adult and nobody deserves to be taken advantage of sexually."[6] On its website, Sunflower House described itself as a non-residential children’s advocacy and abuse prevention center.[7]
The Kansas City Star editorial board called for the Kansas Commission on Judicial Qualifications to review the ruling.[8]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Kansas Commission on Judicial Performance, "Judge Gibbens evaluation," archived May 6, 2013
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Kansas Secretary of State, "Candidates for the 2014 General (unofficial)," accessed June 10, 2014
- ↑ Kansas Secretary of State, "2010 General Election Results," accessed October 22, 2014
- ↑ Kansas Secretary of State, "2010 Candidates for the General Election," accessed October 22, 2014
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Fox News, "Kansas judge calls girls, 13 and 14, the 'aggressor' in a child sex solicitation case," February 4, 2019
- ↑ The Kansas City Star, "Kansas judge calls children the ‘aggressor’ in sex abuse case with 67-year-old man," February 3, 2019
- ↑ Sunflower House, "About Sunflower House," accessed February 5, 2019
- ↑ Kansas City Star, "If judge thinks child sex abuse victims are ‘aggressors,’ he doesn’t belong on bench," February 4, 2019
Federal courts:
Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Kansas • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Kansas
State courts:
Kansas Supreme Court • Kansas Court of Appeals • Kansas District Courts • Kansas Municipal Courts
State resources:
Courts in Kansas • Kansas judicial elections • Judicial selection in Kansas
