Judge Sally Pokorny spoke before a packed Douglas County courtroom for the last time Friday as she was honored at her retirement ceremony.
During her nearly 50 years in law, Pokorny worked as both a defense attorney and prosecutor before she took the bench in 2009. In Montgomery County, she was the first woman in Kansas to be elected as a county attorney.
Judge James McCabria, who has known Pokorny for nearly 30 years, said those who know her best would all describe her the same way.
“She’s smart and she’s a straight shooter. She cares about people,” McCabria said. “And if there is a secret sauce to being a good district court judge, that is it.”
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During the ceremony, speakers repeatedly highlighted her role in creating and shaping the Behavioral Health Court, which became one of her lasting contributions to the Douglas County legal system. The specialized court helps people with mental illness break the cycle of incarceration.
McCabria shared comments from some of the almost 100 people who have graduated through the program, saying that having a judge who cared about them was life-changing and that the specialized court set them on their path to freedom.
The special court will continue after Pokorny’s retirement. Chief Judge Mark Simpson said Judge Stacey L. Donovan will preside over it next.
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Pokorny’s close friend, Patti McCormick, emphasized that her impact went beyond the bench and that she understood something fundamental about being a judge.
“Justice is not delivered by one person on the bench,” McCormick said, “but by an entire community working together with purpose and care.”
McCormick also said Pokorny showed strength and grace under pressure through her years on the bench.
“That kind of breadth is rare. That kind of dedication is extraordinary,” McCormick said.
She added that Pokorny handled difficult trials with authority and respect for everyone in the courtroom.
“With her brilliant security team by her side, Sally found composure amid chaos, balancing authority and calm, ensuring safety and order,” McCormick said.
McCormick mentioned one more contribution that she said she and Pokorny hoped other judges would carry forward: playing music during courthouse weddings.
“She and I crafted a wedding music playlist to fill the space with joyous melodies. From then on, you could always tell when a marriage was happening in her courtroom,” McCormick said. “The strains of music signaled celebration, turning the courthouse into a place of warmth and joy.”
Mary Kay Howe, who served as Pokorny’s court reporter the entire time she was on the bench up until Howe’s own retirement last year, said Pokorny would tell defendants she was sentencing to prison that their lives would get better because they’d be away from the crowds they were in, or whatever their situation was.
“By the time she is done talking to them on their level, they are thanking her for sending them to prison,” Howe said. “And she’s never made anyone feel like they’re anything less than her.”
Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Eric Rosen echoed this praise, saying Pokorny’s career reflected the qualities that made her a respected colleague and judge.
“Your career reflects integrity, intellect and heart,” Rosen said.
As Pokorny spoke, she added a little humor to a room full of happy tears, noting that her certificate of appreciation matched her outfit, prompting a giggle from her closest supporters.
Giving way to a more reflective moment, she thanked everyone who had worked with her through the years, from her pre-law friends to the security team at the courthouse. She named several people in the crowd and shared how each had helped her throughout her career.
“I’m the luckiest woman in the world,” Pokorny said.
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Courtney Lane (she/her), staff reporter, has worked with The Lawrence Times since April 2026. She can be reached at clane@lawrencekstimes.com.
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Jacob Rice (he/him), photo editor, has worked with The Lawrence Times since March 2026. He can be reached at jrice@lawrencekstimes.com.
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