Jacqueline Kelly was sworn in Monday as a judge for the 18th Judicial District, which covers Sedgwick County.
Kelly is a former county prosecutor and worked as city attorney for Bel Aire and Derby. She graduated from Washburn University with her law degree in 2014.
Kelly was sworn in with her husband and three children by her side.
"I remember when [we] were younger and we would be like, 'Where is mom?' and she would be in the study room studying," said daughter Jayda Kelly. "I remember going with her to get her books for law school and she always said she wanted to be a judge and so just to watch your parents ... fulfill their dreams; it’s just so cool. She just worked so hard, and you just couldn’t be more proud."
The last Black judge to serve in the 18th District was Monique Centeno, who left office in 2021.
Eric Yost was also sworn in on Monday. It’s his second time serving as a district judge in Sedgwick County. He previously had been on the bench for 19 years. Yost also served in the Kansas Legislature for 12 years. He graduated with his law degree from the University of Kansas in 1987. Yost took the oath of office Monday with two of his eight grandchildren by his side.
Kelly will begin hearing cases Tuesday and Yost will start cases on Wednesday.
