County offices and the Cowley County Courthouse will close Friday morning so that staff may attend the funeral of District Court Judge J. Michael Smith.
District court offices on the second floor of the courthouse will remain closed throughout the day. The courthouse and non-district court offices will reopen at 1 p.m.
Services are set for 10 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Ark City.
The county’s bar association met Thursday to discuss whether an interim replacement is necessary to fill in for Judge Smith, who died unexpectedly Monday at age 74. Cowley County District Court Clerk Marilyn Leith said the decision was made to have Judges Nick St. Peter and Jim Pringle handle Smith’s duties, for now.
The issue will be reviewed in a couple weeks and, if courtroom delays are mounting, a senior judge may be called in a couple days each week, Leith said. Judge Smith was set to retire in January.
Republican LaDonna Lanning and Democrat Mark Krusor will face office in November to fill Smith’s seat.
Leith said she had attended a meeting with Judge Smith as recently as last Thursday. He was looking forward to his retirement and spending more time with his family.
"He was right there, about ready to enjoy his retirement," Leith said. "I think that’s what makes it especially sad for us. He’ll be missed."
Leith said the judge was at home Monday morning when he died. An autopsy was done to determine a cause of death. So far, friends and colleagues only know that Judge Smith was sitting in a chair at home and lost consciousness.
He could not be revived.
