In Memoriam
| Publication year | 2010 |
| Pages | 10 |
In Memoriam Chief Justice Robert E. Davis 1939 - 2010
On August 4, the state of Kansas lost a longtime jurist, former Chief Justice Robert E. Davis. After a prolonged illness, he died at his home in Leavenworth. He retired from the Kansas Supreme Court on August 3.
Chief Justice Lawton R. Nuss, who replaced Davis as chief justice after his retirement on August 3, recalls his colleague with these remembrances:
"After my appointment to the Supreme Court was announced in August 2002, I received many calls at my law firm from well-wishers. In the midst of this commotion, my legal assistant informed me that Bob Davis was on the telephone. The name did not ring a bell. I concluded the caller was yet another long lost relative or a grade school acquaintance who now expected me to perform a marriage ceremony without charge.
"When I answered the phone, a warm voice stated, "˜Lawton, this is Bob Davis, your colleague on the Kansas Supreme Court.' At the words Kansas Supreme Court, I found myself immediately standing at attention. [Marine Corps habits die hard.] Just plain "˜Bob' continued by welcoming me to the Court and by stating he looked forward to working with me. After a few minutes more of pleasant conversation, we hung up. I then relaxed into my at ease position. And I marveled at how a busy person like Justice Davis would take the time to make me feel that special.
"During the eight years it was my privilege to call Bob Davis my colleague and friend, I came to admire many of his personal traits and legal skills. But Bob's ability to make everyone he met feel special — that he or she was the most important person on earth and worthy of Bob's undivided attention — is what truly set him apart. His Supreme Court colleagues greatly miss him."
Davis had been a member of the Supreme Court since 1993. Before his appointment to the Supreme Court, he served eight years on the Kansas Court of Appeals and prior to that, he was judge with the Leavenworth District Court.
While on the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals, he took part in thousands of decisions. On the Supreme Court alone, he authored 351 majority opinions, 21 dissenting opinions, and six concurring opinions.
Colleagues said that Davis had a gentle, nurturing spirit that lent itself to his work. He always maintained his grace and civility when the...
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