District court Judge Andrea Purvis, from left, and her husband, attorney John Purvis, talk to his former classmate from Washburn Law School at the judge's robing ceremony last month. John Purvis, received an endorsement last week to be the La Cynge municipal judge. (Journal file photo)
At the formal robing ceremony last month of Andrea Purvis, new 6th Judicial District judge for Linn County, her husband John Purvis was by her side as she was sworn in. And in her remarks following the ceremony, she credited him for his support as she moved from county attorney of Dickinson County to a governor-appointed district judge.
But with a law degree from Washburn University, 14 years running his own law firm in Abilene, and deep experience as a city attorney, municipal judge as well as criminal defense attorney for U.S. District Court, John Purvis is likely to find his services needed.
Long-time Mound City Attorney Jesse Randall sent a letter to the Mound City Council earlier this month saying he was stepping down from his position there. Earlier this week he indicated that he would continue as attorney for the Jayhawk USD 346 Board of Education only until the end of the school year.
Last week on Dec. 7, Purvis was introduced to the La Cygne City Council by La Cygne City Attorney Burton Harding as a candidate for municipal court judge there.
Although La Cygne had, at that point, not received a resignation letter from Richard M. Fisher Jr., current municipal judge for the city, Fisher was expected to resign. Fisher, who also has been in private practice in Osawatomie, was appointed by Gov. Laura Kelly to fill one of two open judgeship positions in the 6th Judicial District. Kelly made the announcement on Dec. 5.
Harding pointed out that the city needed to wait for Fisher’s resignation before it could appoint a new judge.
Purvis told the council he had been the municipal judge for five different Kansas cities, mainly in Abilene and Manhattan area. That included being a fill-in judge for several cities, including Junction City.
He has also been city attorney for Chapman and Solomon.
Harding said that Purvis had already sat in the La Cygne city court for Fisher when there was a conflict in a case.
“I always come home to city court,” Purvis told the council. “That’s kind of been my favorite place to be.”
In addition to Harding’s endorsement, La Cygne Police Chief Tina Fenoughty also gave her endorsement.