Across Kansas, more judges are becoming attuned to the mental health struggles of those who step into their courtrooms. In Ellis County, 23rd Judicial District Chief Judge Curtis Brown has witnessed the revolving door of people who are battling addiction and untreated mental illness while simultaneously dealing with the court system. “I really like to try to help people out,” Brown says. “You’ve just got to bring in a human element and help these folks.” More than 250 miles to the east, Johnson County District Judge Robert Wonnell has grown more aware of the behavioral health challenges some people face through his work presiding over Division 6 of the 10th Judicial District. Wonnell gained a new perspective in 2019 when he attended a regional conference hosted by the National Judicial Task Force to examine state courts’ responses to mental illness.
Read more: KLC Journal
