Courtesy Beth Day, The Times of Pottawatomie County
Pottawatomie County Magistrate Judge Erich Campbell died Thursday after a brief illness. He was 60.
Campbell, was retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel who served 29 years in the military. Upon retirement, he was adjutant at Washburn University and then later appointed as the Magistrate of the 2nd Judicial District in 2015. Five years later the Kansas Supreme Court appointed him to serve on its Language Access Committee.
In a statement, Kansas Supreme Court Justice Eric Rosen said Rosen was a “true public servant, first through his career with the United States Army and then his tenure as a district magistrate judge in Pottawatomie County District Court.”
Pottawatomie County Chief Judge Jeffrey Elder said, “Judge Campbell served the Pottawatomie County community as honorably and with as much dignity as he served his country. We will miss his steady presence, his decorum, and his collegiality.”
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has directed flags be flown at half-staff at the State Capitol Complex and all court buildings and facilities in his honor. Flags will remain at half-staff until he is interred on Thursday, Sept. 25. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. at Mercer Funeral Home in Holton.
“From his time in the Army to his time on the bench, Judge Campbell demonstrated a commitment to public service,” Kelly said. “We owe him a debt of gratitude for his leadership on behalf of Kansans and our country. My condolences go out to his loved ones during this difficult time.”
