COMMISIONER BIOGRAPHIES

Walsh was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2025.

Walsh is a native of the Kansas City metro and earned bachelor’s degrees in English and studio art from Southern Methodist University in 2001. She earned her law degree from the University of Kansas School of Law in 2004.

After law school, Walsh was a research attorney for former Supreme Court Justice Carol A. Beier and later a law clerk for Judge Carlos Murguia of the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas. She entered private practice at Stueve Siegel Hanson in 2013.

She was later an attorney at Chinnery Evans & Nail, an attorney and then partner at Sharp Law, and had recently rejoined Stueve Siegel Hanson before her appointment to the bench.

Walsh has served on the Kansas Board of Law Examiners and the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas Bench-Bar Committee. She is a member of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, and the Kansas Bar Association where she has served on the organization’s Annual Survey of Law Editorial Committee for over two decades.

Walsh is the Supreme Court liaison to Attorney Registration, Rules Committee, Continuing Legal Education Board, District Magistrate Judge Certification Committee, Judicial Education Advisory Committee, the Municipal Court Clerks Education Committee, the Municipal Judges Education Committee, and the Supreme Court on the Road Committee.

Walsh is a mother of four with her husband of 20 years.

Thomas J. Bath Jr. was born in Kansas City, Kansas; was admitted to the Kansas bar in 1986; admitted to the Missouri bar in 1994; admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court; U.S. Court of Appeals, 8th and 10th Circuits; U.S. District Courts for the District of Kansas and Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri.

Following graduation from the University of Kansas School of law in 1986 Tom was employed at the Johnson County, Kansas District Attorney’s Office until 1992 where he prosecuted several high profile cases. Tom was recognized in 1992 as the prosecutor of the year in the State of Kansas. In 1992 Tom became an associate at the Bryan Cave law firm, becoming a partner in 1996. In 1996 Tom joined with Robb Edmonds to form the firm of Bath & Edmonds specializing in criminal law.

Tom’s practice includes representation of individuals and corporations on complex matters ranging from health care, tax and bank fraud to allegations brought by nearly every federal regulatory agency. Tom’s state practice includes every type of allegation including embezzlement, securities fraud, narcotics, vehicular homicide, DUI, robbery, sexual assault and murder. Tom is one of a select few who are asked by the courts (State and Federal) to represent persons charged with capital murder. Tom has been a featured speaker and panelist on numerous state and regional conferences addressing criminal law. Tom’s practice has included court appearances in Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Colorado and Arkansas. Tom has tried approximately 300 bench trials and over 135 jury trials and briefed and argued in excess of 50 appellate cases before the Kansas and Missouri appellate courts as well as the 8th and 10th Circuit Federal Courts.

Tom is active in various local and state bar activities, is a former president of the Johnson County Bar Foundation and was on the Board of Directors for the Johnson County Bar. In 2000 and again in 2004 Tom was elected by his peers to serve on the Supreme Court Nominating Commission where he participated in the nomination of five Supreme Court and eight Court of Appeals candidates.

This is Tom’s third term on the commission. His term expires in March 2027

Stephene Moore has been a Johnson County resident for over 55 years and is a graduate of Shawnee Mission East High School, Johnson County Community College and the University of Kansas.

After earning her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing at the University of Kansas, Stephene has continuously maintained her license and worked in hospital and clinical settings as well as private practices. She has used her nursing background to volunteer with several organization to provide health care and education in the United States and abroad.

Stephene worked as the University of Kansas Project Coordinator for the Washington, DC Intern Program, with the Department of Political Science for six years.

Most recently, Stephene served as the Regional Director for the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services for Region VII (Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa). Appointed by President Barack Obama she worked tirelessly throughout the region to enhance and protect the health and well-being of all Americans by providing for effective health and human services and fostering advances in medicine, public health, and social services. Stephene served as the representative of the Secretary in direct official dealings with State and local governmental organizations.

She and her husband Dennis have been married 29 years and have a large blended family with seven adult children and fifteen grandchildren.

This is Stephene’s second term on the commission. Her term expires in March, 2028.

Laura McConwell is a life long Kansan who left the state to attend college at Brown University then returned to attend law school at the University of Missouri- Kansas City. Since graduating, she has enjoyed a general practice which includes general litigation, acting outside counsel for business clients, real estate transactions, estate planning, probate and family matters. She offices with her father whose career focused on aviation and commercial litigation. Her office, McConwell Law Offices, is in Mission, Kansas. She is admitted to practice law in Kansas, Missouri, the United States District Court for the Districts of Kansas and Western District of Missouri, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, the United State Court of Federal Claims and the United States Supreme Court. In addition to these jurisdictions, she has tried complex civil matters in a variety of jurisdictions across our country.

Laura has been (and is currently) involved in many civic and public organizations. She was an elected leader in Mission, Kansas beginning with her first election as a Councilwoman from April 2000 – March 2002; and thereafter was the first woman Mayor of Mission, Kansas serving from March 2002 – April 2014. Laura is active in the Johnson County Bar Association (President 2019), Kansas Women Attorney’s Association and Kansas Bar Association. She is honored to serve on Johnson County’s Judicial Nominating Commission having been elected by her peer Johnson County attorneys. In addition to the JNC, Laura is a board member of the Foundation of Johnson County Parks & Recreation, a board member and Secretary of the Shawnee Mission Education Foundation, a youth leader at Hillcrest Covenant Church, Sponsor of the Shawnee Mission North Women’s Swim Team and is active with alma mater.

Laura and her husband have five adult children and fully enjoyed all the activities which come with raising active children; but with the youngest heading into her senior year of college, they find more time is spent with their babies still at home…..who some may refer to as "dogs."

Her term expires in March, 2028.

Hon. (ret.) Kevin P. Moriarty was born in Topeka, Kansas. He received his B.A. from Washburn University in 1975, his J.D. from Washburn University in 1978 and his M.P.A. from Kansas University in 1984. In 1979, he began his legal career at the Johnson County District Attorney’s office, later moving into private practice and eventually becoming a District Court Judge of the 10th Judicial District of Kansas in April, 2004. In 2014 he was appointed Chief Judge of the 10th Judicial District. While on the Bench he was assigned to the Criminal, Civil, and Child in Need of Care dockets. Judge Moriarty was considered a "utility player" covering every docket at the courthouse when other Judges needed assistance. Judge Moriarty retired from the Bench on June 28, 2019. Kevin started a mediation practice in Overland Park in July of 2019.

Kevin has 5 children (Shannon, Kelly, Erin, Maddox, and Maverick) and is married to Barbara Allen. He is a Member of the 10th Judicial Nomination Commission and on the Board of Directors for Allies for Racial Justice, Miracle of Innocence, and EmberHope.

His term expires in March, 2028.

Hon. Thomas Kelly Ryan serves as a District Court Judge in the Tenth Judicial District (Johnson County) since November 2008. Upon his appointment to the Court, he was one of three judges assigned to the Family Court for Johnson County (hearing divorce cases with minor children, paternity cases, child support matters and PFA/PFS cases). He transferred to the Criminal Department in July 2013. He returned to the Family Court in February 2026. Judge Ryan served as Chief Judge for the Tenth Judicial District from 2018 through 2021.

Judge Ryan grew up in Johnson County. He received his B.A. degree from Creighton University in 1981 and his Juris Doctorate degree from Washburn Law School in 1985. After working as an Assistant District Attorney in Johnson County for three years, he joined the law firm that became Gates, Biles, Shields & Ryan, P.A. His private practice for 20 years consisted of civil litigation matters with a significant portion involving family law matters.

Ryan is the Past-President of the Kansas District Judges Association. Ryan currently serves on the Commission on Judicial Conduct and the PIK (Pattern Instructions – Kansas) committee. Judge Ryan has served on the Johnson County Criminal Justice Advisory Council since 2014, acting as chair since 2023. He served as chair for the Judicial Council Adoption Law Advisory Committee in reviewing and recommending legislative changes to the adoption laws in Kansas and served as a member and chair of the Kansas Council on Dispute Resolution.

Judge Ryan was elected to the Johnson County Judicial Nominating Commission in 2022 and re-elected in 2026. He is also a member of the Board of Directors for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Johnson & Wyandotte Counties.

Judge Ryan previously served on the Supreme Court’s Advisory Council on Dispute Resolution (vice-chair and chair), and the Judicial Education Advisory Council. Ryan is a member of the Johnson County Bar Association (Past President and past member of the Board of Directors), Kansas Bar Association (past president, Family Law Section) and American Bar Association.

Ryan lives in Shawnee and is the proud Father of two adult children and two wonderful granddaughters.

His term expires in March, 2030.

Merritt Bradley Watson is a partner in the Prairie Village-based law firm of Logan, Logan & Watson LC. He began the practice of law in 1984 with the Johnson County District Attorney’s Office. During his time there, he tried cases ranging from property crimes to serious drug offenses and capital murder. In addition to his work with the District Attorney’s Office, Brad also served as a frequent lecturer at the Johnson County Police Academy and as an adjunct professor of law at the University of Kansas Law School.

In November of 1989, Brad left the Johnson County District Attorney’s Office and joined his current firm where he has built a strong reputation as a passionate advocate for his clients. His litigation experience in defense of medical malpractice cases includes emergency medicine, general surgery, neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery, bariatric surgery, obstetrical, gynecological surgery, ophthalmology, podiatry, and psychological issues. Brad has also defended skilled nursing and assisted living facilities in Kansas, Missouri and Illinois.

Brad has also served as judge in the municipal courts of Edgerton and Prairie Village.

Brad’s litigation work has produced a number of published cases, both in the areas of criminal law and civil litigation. Brad has tried more than 65 jury trials in the courts of Kansas and Missouri. He became the third-named partner for his law firm in 2007.

Brad raised two boys with his late wife and lives in Mission Hills, Kansas.

Scott Wissel is General Counsel and Chair of the Litigation Department in the Kansas City office of Lewis Rice. He is an experienced trial attorney who represents and counsels clients in complex civil matters, including real estate and construction disputes, consumer banking litigation, loan enforcement, receiverships, and contract disputes. He also advises attorneys and firm leadership on legal ethics, professional responsibility, and risk management. Scott represents owners, developers, contractors, and property managers in commercial and residential construction disputes, and works with national and regional homebuilders on construction defect and warranty claims. Earlier in his career, he clerked for the Honorable G. Thomas Van Bebber of the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas.

Outside of work, Scott enjoys traveling, following his Carolina Tarheels and Kansas City sports, and spending time with his wife, Tessie, and their children.

This is Scott's first term on the commission. His term is effective until March, 2028

Trent Dansel grew up in unincorporated Hodgeman County, Kansas engaged in various aspects of family farming. He graduated from Jetmore High School in 2003, and completed studies in Civil Engineering at Kansas State University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in 2008.

He has lived in the Kansas City metro since January 2011, and has been employed in the civil engineering industry as a designer, project engineer, and business development staffer. He also provides leadership in the business and civic community, serving as Past-Chair for the Lenexa Chamber of Commerce, Legislative Affairs Chair for the KS Society of Professional Engineers - Eastern Chapter, member of the Rotary Club of Overland Park, a Director for the Bi-State Commission, and Director for Humanities Kansas.

Trent became the drummer for the Blaine Younger Band in 2009.

He was appointed to the Commission as a non-attorney member in March, 2023.