2026 Bench & Bar® Conference

The 2026 Bench-Bar Conference, organized by the Johnson County Bar Association, is scheduled for April 8, 2026, at Fiorella's Event Space in Overland Park, Kansas. This full-day event offers Continuing Legal Education (CLE) programming, professional insights, and meaningful discussions, bringing together members of the Johnson County judiciary and legal community.

The conference features a diverse agenda, including a Judicial Mediation Panel with Judges Kevin Moriarty, Paul Gurney, and Jackie Rokusek, who will provide practical guidance on mediations in family law, civil, and criminal cases. An ethics session titled "Talkin’ ’Bout Our Generations: Ethics in a Multigenerational Practice" will explore how generational differences among attorneys influence various aspects of legal practice. Breakout sessions will cover topics such as trust accounts in Kansas, recent developments in Kansas criminal law, elder abuse identification and prevention, and bankruptcy law for general practitioners.

Attendees will have opportunities to engage directly with judges and practitioners across multiple practice areas, participate in interactive panels driven by questions submitted by bar members, and gain practical strategies for navigating ethical challenges. The event also includes a presentation by Justice Ventures International on securing justice for victims of human trafficking and other injustices through legal advocacy and collaboration.

This conference is ideal for attorneys, judges, and legal professionals seeking to stay current on legal updates, enhance their professional skills, and network with peers in the Johnson County legal community.