Robert H. Kaul, a former Kansas Supreme Court justice who was remembered as a distinguished lawyer, judge, gentleman and friend, died Monday at his home in Topeka.
Kaul, 88, retired from the court in 1977 after serving 12 years. At his encomium in 1978, a formal presentation made after justices leave the court, fellow lawyers described Kaul's achievements, including his work to improve probation opportunities for young offenders.
During the retirement memorial, former Kansas Supreme Court Justice David Prager said Kaul helped streamline the judicial system after substantial case load increases were caused by mass relocations to rural areas of Kansas in the 1950s.
"As a result of his innovative use of pretrial procedures, Justice Kaul acquired the reputation of being a judicial innovator and a trial judge who knew how to get things done," Prager said.
Kaul was born on a farm 2 1/2 miles east of Holton, the son of German immigrants. He attended a one- room elementary school and graduated from Holton High School. He graduated from Washburn University and later The University of Kansas Law School.
Kaul was appointed to the Kansas Supreme Court in 1965 by Gov. William Avery.
Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Kay McFarland said Monday that although she joined the Supreme Court at the same time Kaul was retiring, she had a chance to get to know the former justice.
McFarland said she was most impressed by Kaul's humor, analytical ability and common sense.
"I was impressed with what a great guy he was," she said. "He was a man for all seasons -- the kind of person you'd like to have as a friend."
Prager also used the 1978 ceremony to compliment Kaul's ability to communicate within a profession that is often known for being cryptic and said he was held in the highest esteem of the bar.
Prager called him "a lawyer's judge in every sense of the word."
"Those of us who served on the court with Justice Robert H. Kaul have become better people from our association with him," he said. "We have been touched by his wisdom, by his loyalty, by his tolerance, and by his humanity."

Published in the Topeka Capital Journal

Contributor: Connie Young Kitchen (47571206)

Robert H. Kaul, a former Kansas Supreme Court justice who was remembered as a distinguished lawyer, judge, gentleman and friend, died Monday at his home in Topeka.
Kaul, 88, retired from the court in 1977 after serving 12 years. At his encomium in 1978, a formal presentation made after justices leave the court, fellow lawyers described Kaul's achievements, including his work to improve probation opportunities for young offenders.
During the retirement memorial, former Kansas Supreme Court Justice David Prager said Kaul helped streamline the judicial system after substantial case load increases were caused by mass relocations to rural areas of Kansas in the 1950s.
"As a result of his innovative use of pretrial procedures, Justice Kaul acquired the reputation of being a judicial innovator and a trial judge who knew how to get things done," Prager said.
Kaul was born on a farm 2 1/2 miles east of Holton, the son of German immigrants. He attended a one- room elementary school and graduated from Holton High School. He graduated from Washburn University and later The University of Kansas Law School.
Kaul was appointed to the Kansas Supreme Court in 1965 by Gov. William Avery.
Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Kay McFarland said Monday that although she joined the Supreme Court at the same time Kaul was retiring, she had a chance to get to know the former justice.
McFarland said she was most impressed by Kaul's humor, analytical ability and common sense.
"I was impressed with what a great guy he was," she said. "He was a man for all seasons -- the kind of person you'd like to have as a friend."
Prager also used the 1978 ceremony to compliment Kaul's ability to communicate within a profession that is often known for being cryptic and said he was held in the highest esteem of the bar.
Prager called him "a lawyer's judge in every sense of the word."
"Those of us who served on the court with Justice Robert H. Kaul have become better people from our association with him," he said. "We have been touched by his wisdom, by his loyalty, by his tolerance, and by his humanity."

Published in the Topeka Capital Journal

Contributor: Connie Young Kitchen (47571206)