HUTCHINSON, Kan. – The new Magistrate Judge for Reno County was sworn into office Tuesday morning before a nearly packed courtroom.
Cheryl I. Allen (top right) was selected by Governor Sam Brownback to replacing Judge Randy McEwen who retired earlier this year.
Allen took the oath of office from Administrative Judge Patty Macke Dick (top left) early Tuesday morning.
Allen most recently served as an Assistant District Attorney, mainly covering juvenile matters for that office. She had also at one point worked for Legal Services through the Kansas Department of Corrections representing inmates who needed a lawyer in district court matters.
Allen told us she was excited at her new position saying its something she has always wanted to do. But, she admits it bittersweet to leave the D.A’s office noting how much likes the people she worked with in that office. She says had she been selected for the magistrate position, she would have been fine saying she loved what she had been doing.
Allen’s first chore Tuesday morning was to handle first appearances in District Court for those arrested by law enforcement or picked up a ticket by the Sheriff’s Office or Kansas Highway Patrol.
But, she will also over see some preliminary hearings taking some of the burden off the other judges.