Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree says his office will no longer appear before Judge Tony Martinez, prompting requests to move upcoming matters out of Martinez’s Division 12 and into other judges’ courtrooms. The change affects “several hearings scheduled” over the next few weeks, including traffic and DUI dockets, which Dupree’s letter says will not proceed unless and until another judge is assigned.
The step comes while Martinez seeks a third term and faces two challengers in the judicial election. The article also describes mounting criticism involving prosecutors, defense attorneys, and a complaint from a community activist. One challenger, Wyandotte County Assistant District Attorney Kayla Roehler, said she is running due to concerns about how people are treated in Martinez’s division, while another candidate, attorney Reginald Davis, is running after a prior complaint he filed led to changes following a ruling affecting his client.
Community activist Louise Lynch recorded audio of a comment she found racially offensive at a community forum and filed a complaint she says includes additional concerns about how she was treated during a recent event. The Kansas Commission on Judicial Conduct has reportedly heard multiple complaints against Martinez, including findings tied to a 2024 cease-and-desist order and other campaign- and courtroom-related conduct. The judge declined to comment during a Tuesday hearing and said he would email a statement.