Judge Cheryl Rios was appointed to the district court bench in 2008. Previously she was Associate Judge for the City of Topeka, Municipal Court. After practicing critical care nursing for 6 years, Judge Rios graduated from Washburn University School of Law in 1993. The judge served as a staff attorney for Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, served as an adjunct professor at Washburn University and is a former Shawnee County Assistant District Attorney.
Judge Rios currently is assigned to do hear felony criminal cases in Shawnee County District Court.
Judge Rios was selected to serve on the Kansas Supreme Court Bench hearing some cases called on the docket in December, 2019. Judge Rios remains an active member of community in Kansas and nationwide. Judge Rios currently serves on the National Association of Women Judges Board of directors, the Kansas District Judges Association Board of Directors, the Kansas Judicial Council (Criminal Law Advisory Board), and Topeka Community Foundation’s Healthy Lifestyle Committee. Judge Rios is a member of the following organizations: NAWJ, HNBA, KBA, TBA, KWAA, KWAAT, MANA de Topeka, and Washburn University Alumni Association.
Judge Rios previously served on the YWCA Board of Directors, Topeka Collegiate School Board of Directors, MANA de Topeka’s Board of Directors, and the Topeka Community Foundation’s Board of Directors.
