By ALIN HETT
Hays Post
After retiring from the bench following almost three decades of service, Richard Flax decided he was not finished helping people.
Flax is taking over as Hays municipal court judge following the retirement of Ross Wichman, who served in the position for 20 years. Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler asked Flax to consider stepping into the role.
Flax said his decision to return to the courtroom was driven by the same motivation that guided him throughout his judicial career.
“I enjoy helping people,” he said. “This is also something new to me and I'm excited to navigate the challenges.”
Flax retired April 6 of this year, after serving 29 years and four months as a district magistrate judge. He began serving Trego County in 1997 and presided over cases in Ellis County and other surrounding counties during his career.
The 23rd Judicial District is made up of Ellis, Gove, Rooks and Trego counties.
Flax said he tries to recognize the person standing before him rather than defining that person solely by the mistake that brought them into court.
“I make mistakes every day, and just because you make a mistake does not make you a bad person,” Flax said.
Although he approaches people with that understanding, Flax said he maintains traditional expectations inside his courtroom. He described himself as a stickler for the dress code and other old-fashioned courtroom practices.
“It’s a respect thing,” Flax said. “I expect respect just as I respect others.”
Flax is a Kansas native who grew up in Ransom as one of 15 children. His interest in becoming a judge developed after he spent 18 months serving on a federal grand jury.
That experience also led to conversations with U.S. District Judge Sam Crow, who helped Flax decide to pursue a position on the bench.
“I had many conversations with Judge Sam Crow, and he helped me make my decision to seek a judgeship,” Flax said in a statement released by the Kansas judicial branch.
Beyond his work in the courtroom, Flax served on the Kansas Supreme Court Blue Ribbon Commission, Juvenile Justice Oversight Committee, Judges Assistance Committee and Municipal Court Judges Education Committee.
His service was recognized in 2023 when the Kansas District Magistrate Judges Association presented him with the Lee Nusser Award for Outstanding Magistrate Judge.
Although his retirement closed a 29-year chapter in the 23rd Judicial District, Flax’s return to the bench in Hays will allow him to continue the work he said he enjoys most, helping people through the judicial system.