--- title: "W. Lee Fowler | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/w-lee-fowler-district-court-judge-kansas-5th-judicial-district-court-ks" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # W. Lee Fowler Kansas 5th Judicial District Court · District Court Judge ## Profile - Court: Kansas 5th Judicial District Court - State: Kansas - Role: District Court Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-26 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge of the Kansas 5th Judicial District Court, serving Lyon County and appointed in 1997 by former Governor Bill Graves - Chase County Attorney from 1985 to 1993 - Assignment: Lyon County District Judge (Division Two) - Judge, 5th Judicial District Court of Kansas (Lyon County assignment) - His work on the Drug Court and his background as both a prosecutor and defense attorney have been noted as valuable contributions to Kansas’ criminal justice system ### Education - Washburn University School of Law the biographical record+1 Licensed to practice law in Kansas in the biographical record — J.D. (1981) - Bachelor’s degree – Emporia State University the biographical record+1 ### Additional information - in 2004, which he has presided over since - He has been re‐elected multiple times, most recently in 2022 - appointed to the bench in 1997 - Judge’s line: (620) 341‐3293 - Biography of Judge W. Lee Fowler - , serving in Lyon County and presiding over cases in both Lyon and Chase Counties - 16 years in private legal practice - Kansas District Judges Association - Kansas Sentencing Commission - Kansas Supreme Court Commission on Specialty Courts - by then-Governor William P. Graves - creation of the Lyon County Drug Court - He also serves as - chairman of the 5th Judicial District Community Corrections Advisory Board - Before joining the judiciary, Fowler spent - handling criminal, domestic, personal injury, real estate, commercial, and probate matters - Lyon‐Chase County Bar Association - Kansas Bar Association - National Association of Drug Court Professionals - for his expertise in corrections and drug‐related crime issues - Parsons, Kansas - , Fowler is married to Kelley Fowler, and they have five adult children - Lyon County District Court, 430 Commercial St., Emporia, KS 66801 ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### media electronic device coverage Scope: statewide Kansas statewide Rule 1001 requires media members to obtain written court permission before using an electronic device to photograph, record, transmit, or provide live coverage of a court proceeding. Evidence excerpt: A media member must get written permission from the court before using an electronic device to photograph, record, transmit, or provide live coverage of a court proceeding. [Kansas Supreme Court Rule 1001: Media Coverage of Court Proceedings](https://kscourts.gov/KSCourts/media/KsCourts/Rules/Rule-1001.pdf?ext=.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### advance media request timing Scope: statewide Kansas statewide Rule 1001 directs media members to request permission at least one week before the proceeding, unless the court waives the timing requirement for good cause. Evidence excerpt: At least one week before a court proceeding, a media member must ask the court or media coordinator for permission to use an electronic device during the proceeding. [Kansas Supreme Court Rule 1001: Media Coverage of Court Proceedings](https://kscourts.gov/KSCourts/media/KsCourts/Rules/Rule-1001.pdf?ext=.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### judge controlled device location Scope: statewide Kansas statewide Rule 1001 leaves the authorized device location to the judge, presiding judge, or appellate clerk depending on the court, and local orders control when they conflict with Rule 1001. Evidence excerpt: A judge will designate where a media member may use an electronic device during a district court proceeding. [Kansas Supreme Court Rule 1001: Media Coverage of Court Proceedings](https://kscourts.gov/KSCourts/media/KsCourts/Rules/Rule-1001.pdf?ext=.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://kscourts.gov/About-the-Courts/District-Courts/Districts/5th-Judicial-District) - [Official roster](https://kscourts.gov/About-the-Courts/District-Courts/Districts/5th-Judicial-District) - [Kansas Judicial Branch official judicial roster](https://kscourts.gov/About-the-Courts/District-Courts/Districts/5th-Judicial-District) - [Kansas Supreme Court Rule 1001: Media Coverage of Court Proceedings](https://kscourts.gov/KSCourts/media/KsCourts/Rules/Rule-1001.pdf?ext=.pdf) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/w-lee-fowler-district-court-judge-kansas-5th-judicial-district-court-ks", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/w-lee-fowler-district-court-judge-kansas-5th-judicial-district-court-ks", "name": "W. 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Lee Fowler", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/w-lee-fowler-district-court-judge-kansas-5th-judicial-district-court-ks" } ] } ] } ``` ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [Kansas Supreme Court Rule 1001: Media Coverage of Court Proceedings](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-24b6feac6cd1ef1f99728446) — Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://kscourts.gov/KSCourts/media/KsCourts/Rules/Rule-1001.pdf?ext=.pdf). Collected 2026-07-26.