TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly on Monday appointed Johnson County District Judge K. Christopher (Chris) Jayaram to the Kansas Supreme Court, filling the seat vacated by retired Chief Justice Marla Luckert.
The selection comes from a three-person list forwarded by the Supreme Court Nominating Commission. Jayaram, a resident of Lenexa, has been a district judge since 2021 after roughly two decades in private practice.
What this means for Kansans
Jayaram will join the court at a time when the panel is weighing cases with wide public impact. He is the presiding trial judge in a pending lawsuit brought by abortion providers challenging state clinic regulations — a matter closely watched since the Kansas Supreme Court's 2019 decision recognizing a fundamental right to end a pregnancy under the state Bill of Rights.
"Kansans deserve justices who possess unquestioned integrity, deep legal knowledge, sound judgment and unwavering commitment to applying the law fairly and impartially," Gov. Kelly said.
Jayaram released a statement saying he will finish his remaining district court duties before joining the high court and vowed to apply the law "fair, just and impartial[ly]."
Background and career
Jayaram earned his law degree in 1997 from the Northwestern School of Law at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon, and holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Kansas. His private-practice career included work at firms such as Horn Aylward & Bandy and Smith Free Heald & Chock, according to public bios. Kelly appointed him to the Johnson County bench in 2021.
| Year / Period | Milestone |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate | University of Kansas (date not specified) |
| 1997 | Juris Doctor, Lewis & Clark College (Northwestern School of Law) |
| ~1997–2021 | Private-practice attorney (multiple firms) |
| 2021 | Appointed Johnson County District Court judge by Gov. Kelly |
| 2026 | Appointed to Kansas Supreme Court |
- Appointing authority: Gov. Laura Kelly
- Previous role: Johnson County District Court judge since 2021
- Education: University of Kansas (undergraduate); Lewis & Clark College, J.D., 1997
Not all reaction was positive. Brittany Jones, president of the lobby group Kansas Family Voice, criticized the selection process and said Jayaram's rulings revealed a political bias, citing disputes over civil procedure. Jayaram was also among finalists in 2025 for another Supreme Court opening won that year by Leawood attorney Larkin Walsh.
Jayaram’s appointment will be closely watched for how it affects the court's approach to cases that touch on reproductive rights and other contentious legal questions in Kansas. He said he looks forward to joining his new colleagues and to continuing to serve Kansans through impartial application of the law.
