TOPEKA — District Magistrate Judge Shelley Selfridge retired Jan. 11 after serving 24 years in Lane County.
Selfridge was elected judge in 1996. Lane County is part of the 24th Judicial District, which also is composed of Edwards, Hodgeman, Lane, Ness, Pawnee, and Rush counties.
Selfridge had been a secretary for the Lane County attorney for 11 years when she decided to seek election as district magistrate judge.
"I was inspired to learn more about the challenges of the law," she said. "I would recommend anyone interested in becoming a judge to read and study as much as possible about the various aspects of the law."
Selfridge said it has been a rewarding career, even though it was one she did not anticipate. After graduating from Dighton High School, she earned a bachelor's degree in home economics and a master's degree in clothing, textiles, and interior design from Kansas State University. She returned to Dighton in 1985.
Her study of law accelerated after she was elected judge. Magistrate judges who are not lawyers must be able to pass an examination given by the Kansas Supreme Court to become certified within 18 months.
She gained more knowledge through the annual continuing education conferences provided to judges.
"I have enjoyed the challenging topics at our conferences and the opportunity to network and become friends with other judges," Selfridge said. "Those friendships have been some of the most rewarding parts of the job."
Selfridge said her retirement plans include traveling to see her son in Chicago and to Scotland, Ireland, and Norway as soon as it is safe to do so. She also enjoys researching family genealogy.
District magistrate judges in the 24th Judicial District are elected by partisan ballot. Selfridge was last elected to a four year term in November 2016.