Jackson County District Court Judge Micheal Ireland was remem­bered as a “very efficient” judge and an exemplary human being following his death Saturday eve­ning at a Topeka hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest on Wednesday morning at the Jackson County Courthouse.

Ireland remembered for public service, 'no-nonsense' style

 

Jackson County District Court Judge Micheal Ireland was remem­bered as a “very efficient” judge and an exemplary human being following his death Saturday eve­ning at a Topeka hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest on Wednesday morning at the Jackson County Courthouse.

“He brought an interesting blend of discipline and humor to the bench,” Holton attorney J. Richard Lake said of Ireland. “We’ve been close for many, many years… I had great admiration for Mike and his abilities and his people skills.”

Jackson County Attorney Shawna Miller was also among those mourning Ireland, whom she said was “a force to be reckoned with in the courtroom.”

“His no-nonsense communica­tion style never left you wondering where he stood on the issues, yet there was never a doubt that he had a heart of gold, always striving to do what he believed to be right,” Miller said. “He mentored many a young attorney, including myself, and helped mold me into the person and professional I am today. It is with a very heavy heart that I will again enter the courtroom, this time without the presence of my mentor and friend.”

Ireland had served as a district judge for Kansas’ Second Judicial District since 2006, when he was appointed to the bench after serving as an attorney for more than 25 years. He had served as Jackson County Attorney for 18 of those years, getting his start as an assis­tant county attorney under Lake.

“I was a very vocal advocate for Mike for the judgeship, and I was very, very happy that he got it,” Lake said.

Lake also remembered Ireland as “an extremely efficient judge” who was able to mete out the right amount of justice to all who stood before him in the courtroom.

“Every case is different, and every defendant is different,” Ire­land told The Holton Recorder in 2004. “There are three kinds of defendants — good people who stupidly did something wrong for the first time, people who have been in trouble enough that they need some jail time, and outlaws. They go to prison.”

A 1967 graduate of Holton High School and a 1971 graduate of Kansas State University, Ireland was also “a fixture in the commu­nity,” Miller said, and he had was active in several community clubs. To Holton High School football fans, however, he was also known as a “color commentator” for the team’s games.

Prior to his career in law, Ire­land’s career focus was education, having taught in Plains, Winfield and Kansas City, where he taught at Piper High School. He served as a head football and baseball coach at Piper before switching to a ca­reer in law and seeking a juris doctorate degree at Washburn Uni­versity, it was reported.

Ireland had reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest Wednesday morning while in the office of chief court services officer Jim Cyphers. He was later taken by air ambulance to Stormont-Vail Regional Medical Center in Topeka, where he re­mained in intensive care until his death, it was reported.

Jackson County District Court Clerk Colleen Reamer said that the question of who will cover Ireland's caseload will be determined in the days to come, but will most likely involve other judges in or outside the Second Judicial District, which covers Jackson, Jefferson, Pot­tawatomie and Wabaunsee coun­ties.

Steven Roth, a Second District magistrate judge, stepped in on Thursday to cover Ireland's sched­uled caseload, while Pottawatomie County District Court Judge Jeff Elder took over the caseload on Friday, Reamer said. Ireland’s scheduled caseload for Wednesday had been “continued” that day, she added.

Funeral services for Ireland are scheduled for Wednesday at St. Dominic Catholic Church with visitation set for Tuesday evening at Mercer Funeral Home in Holton.

The Holton Recorder

109 W. Fourth St.
Holton, KS 66436
Phone: 785-364-3141
 

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