Year Elected:  1991
Administrative Aide:  Mary Mazur
Court Reporter:  Lou Ann Hale, CSR
College:  Wichita State University - B.A. 1972; Washburn University School of Law - J.D. 1975
Prior Work:  Private Practice 1989 - 1991; District  Attorney - 18th Judicial District 1981 - 1989; Private Practice 1975 - 1981

Judge Owens has been the Presiding Criminal Judge since 1995. The duties of the Presiding Criminal Judge      include: general supervision of all matters arising under the Criminal Code and traffic statutes of the State of   Kansas, including appeals from the municipal courts. He assigns criminal cases to the judges of the Criminal   Department. He also hears the first appearances of the defendants.