Overland Park and Johnson County voters will decide whether to retain District Court Judge Jacquelyn E. Rokusek on the Nov. 3, 2026, general election ballot.
Rokusek serves as a 10th Judicial District judge in Division 19. Governor Laura Kelly appointed her to the bench on Sept. 1, 2020, according to the Johnson County District Court. Her current term ends in 2027, according to the Johnson County Election Office. In a retention race, voters answer "yes" or "no" on whether to keep the judge in office. No opposing candidate appears on the ballot.
Rokusek is certified for the ballot, according to BallotReady election data.
Candidate information
- Residence: Shawnee, Kansas
- Hometown: Kansas City, Kansas
- Family: Married with three children
- Education: bachelor's degree in fine arts and communication, Emporia State University (1988); law degree, Washburn School of Law, Topeka (1994)
Experience and public service
Before joining the bench, Rokusek spent more than two decades in legal practice, in prosecution and private practice, according to the Johnson County District Court.
She began her career as an assistant district attorney at the Johnson County District Attorney's Office from 1994 to 1999. She then served as a special assistant U.S. attorney at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Kansas from 1999 to 2001. Rokusek went on to become managing partner at Rokusek Law Office and later Rokusek Stein Law LLC, where she practiced from 2005 until her 2020 appointment.
Her professional recognitions include the Kansas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers' "Champion of Justice" award in 2021 for contributions to criminal defense, and a Super Lawyer distinction from 2012 to 2019, according to the Johnson County District Court.
Rokusek holds leadership roles in several legal organizations. She chairs the Advisory Council on Dispute Resolution for an appointed term running 2023 to 2026. She serves as president of the Family Law Inn of Court in 2025 and sits on the Kansas District Judge's Association executive board and legislative committee. She chairs the Johnson County Law Library Board of Trustees, where she has been a member since 2021. She also acts as judicial advisor to the Johnson County Protective Order Process Group.
She is a fellow of the Johnson County Bar Association and a master of the bench at the Earl E. O'Connor American Inn of Court. Additional memberships include the Kansas Bar Association, the Kansas Women's Attorney Association, the Kansas Closed Case Task Force, the Johnson County Juvenile Treatment Court, the Johnson County Bar Foundation and ALL RISE.
On the issues
No issue responses from Rokusek were available for this profile.
This profile was compiled from publicly available records reviewed by Overland Park Chronicle editors, including the Johnson County District Court website and the Johnson County Election Office. No candidate questionnaire responses were available at the time of publication.
