Chris Kopecky, the judge who presides over Lawrence Municipal Court, is set to retire at the beginning of March.
Kopecky began in the role in October 2022, coming to Lawrence with more than 25 years of legal experience, according to the city’s announcement at the time.
“It has been my great honor to serve as the Lawrence Municipal Court Judge for the last three and a half years,” Kopecky said in a news release from the city. “I have been blessed to work alongside fantastic court staff, prosecutors, and court-appointed attorneys, all who deeply respect each other and seek the same mutual goal of fundamental fairness and justice for our citizens. Thank you to each and every one of you.”
Kopecky was selected for the position following a national search, according to the city.
During his time in the role, the court launched a program to allow people to pay for $50 worth of traffic tickets by donating $15 worth of school supplies. It brought in more than 900 items during the program’s first year.
Kopecky’s last day will be Monday, March 2, according to the release. City staff members will begin the process of searching for and selecting the next municipal court judge in the coming weeks.
Prior to Kopecky, Scott Miller served as municipal court judge for more than a decade. He retired in July 2022.
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