Tony Powell
Tony Powell is the Kansas Solicitor General. He also served as judge on the Kansas Court of Appeals, Position 10.[1] He was appointed to the Kansas Court of Appeals by Republican Governor Sam Brownback.[2] He retired on June 30, 2022.[3]
On March 2, 2026, President Donald Trump (R) nominated Tony Powell to the United States District Court for the District of Kansas.[1][4][5] As of March 2, 2026, Powell was awaiting a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Click here for more information on Powell's federal judicial nomination.
Judicial nominations and appointments
United States District Court for the District of Kansas
- See also: Federal judges nominated by Donald Trump
On February 18, 2026, President Donald Trump (R) announced his intent to nominate Powell to the United States District Court for the District of Kansas.[1] On March 2, 2026, President Donald Trump (R) nominated Powell to the United States District Court for the District of Kansas.[5] To read more about the federal nominations process, click here.
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| Nominee Information |
| Name: Tony Powell |
| Court: United States District Court for the District of Kansas |
| Progress |
| 21 days since nomination. |
 Nominated: March 2, 2026
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 ABA Rating:
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| Questionnaire: |
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| QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more) |
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Senate Judiciary Committee hearing
As of March 2, 2026, Powell was awaiting a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Click here for a list of other nominees awaiting a committee hearing.
Nomination
On February 18, 2026, President Donald Trump (R) announced his intent to nominate Tony Powell to the United States District Court for the District of Kansas. The president officially nominated Powell on March 2, 2026. Click here for a list of other nominees who have been nominated by President Donald Trump.
Education
Powell received his B.A. in political science from George Washington University in 1985 and his J.D. from Washburn University School of Law in 1991.[6]
Career
From 2002 until his appointment to the Kansas Court of Appeals in 2013, Powell served as a judge for the Eighteenth Judicial District, which serves Sedgwick County. Before that he was a member of the Kansas House of Representatives for eight years and practiced law with the firm of Martin and Churchill, Chartered.[7]
Elections
2018
Kansas Court of Appeals Position 10
Tony Powell was retained to Position 10 of the Kansas Court of Appeals on November 6, 2018 with 73.3% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
73.3
|
659,701 | ||
No |
26.7
|
240,517 | |||
Total Votes |
900,218 | ||||
|
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Selection method
For more information about judicial selection processes in each state, click here.
2014
Powell was retained to Court of Appeals with 66.1 percent of the vote on November 4, 2014.[8]
2010
- See also: Kansas judicial elections, 2010
Powell, a Republican, was re-elected to the district court with 100 percent of the vote in 2010.[9][10]
About the court
| District of Kansas |
|---|
| Tenth Circuit |
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| Judgeships |
| Posts: 6 |
| Judges: 3 |
| Vacancies: 3 |
| Judges |
| Chief: John Broomes |
| Active judges: John Broomes, Toby Crouse, Holly Lou Teeter Senior judges: |
The United States District Court for the District of Kansas is one of 94 United States district courts. The district operates out of courthouses in Kansas City, Topeka, and Wichita.[11] When decisions of the court are appealed, they are appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit based in downtown Denver, Colorado, at the Byron White Federal Courthouse.
The District of Kansas has original jurisdiction over cases filed within its jurisdiction. These cases can include civil and criminal matters that fall under federal law.
The court's headquarters are in Wichita, with courthouses in Kansas City and Topeka.
To read opinions published by this court, click here.
The federal nomination process
Federal judges are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. There are multiple steps to the process:
- The president nominates an individual for a judicial seat.
- The nominee fills out a questionnaire and is reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
- The Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing with the nominee, questioning them about things like their judicial philosophy, past rulings or opinions, etc.
- As part of this process, the committee sends a blue slip to senators from the home state in which the judicial nomination was received, allowing them to express their approval or disapproval of the nominee.
- After the hearing, the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote to approve or return the nominee.
- If approved, the nominee is voted on by the full Senate.
- If the Committee votes to return the nominee to the president, the president has the opportunity to re-nominate the individual.
- The Senate holds a vote on the candidate.
- If the Senate confirms the nomination, the nominee receives a commission to serve a lifelong position as a federal judge.
- If the Senate does not confirm the nomination, that nominee does not become a judge.
See also
External links
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Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Truth Social, "Donald J. Trump," accessed February 25, 2026
- ↑ Leader & Times, "Governor appoints Judge Kim Schroeder and Judge Anthony Powell to Kansas Court of Appeals," January 12, 2013
- ↑ Kansas Judicial Branch, "Judge Anthony Powell to retire from Court of Appeals," June 6, 2022
- ↑ The White House, "Nominations Sent to the Senate," March 2, 2026
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Congress.org, "PN851-5 — Anthony J. Powell — The Judiciary," March 2, 2026
- ↑ Martindale.com, "Judge Profile: Anthony J. Powell," accessed May 31, 2015
- ↑ KAKA, "New Kansas Court Of Appeals Judge To Be Sworn In," February 4, 2013
- ↑ Kansas Secretary of State, "Candidates for the 2014 General (unofficial)," accessed June 10, 2014
- ↑ Kansas Secretary of State, "2010 General Election Results," accessed May 31, 2015
- ↑ The Wichita Eagle, "District Court judges running unopposed," June 1, 2010
- ↑ U.S. District Court, District of Kansas, "Home page," accessed July 16, 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
