# Larkin Walsh

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{{Short description|American lawyer and judge}}
{{Infobox judge
| name = Larkin Walsh
| office = Justice of the [Kansas Supreme Court](/source/Kansas_Supreme_Court)
| appointer = [Laura Kelly](/source/Laura_Kelly)
| term_start = September 17, 2025
| term_end = 
| predecessor = [Evelyn Wilson](/source/Evelyn_Wilson)
| successor = 
| birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|46|2025|8|8}}
| birth_place = 
| death_date = 
| death_place = 
| spouse = 
| children = 4
| party = [Democratic](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States)) (before 2012)<br>[Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) (2012, 2016–2018, 2020–present)<br>[Independent](/source/Independent_voter) (2012–2016, 2018–2020)
| education = [Southern Methodist University](/source/Southern_Methodist_University) ([BA](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts))<br>[University of Kansas](/source/University_of_Kansas) ([JD](/source/Juris_Doctor))
}}
'''Larkin Walsh''' (born {{birth based on age as of date|46|2025|8|8|noage=y}}) is an American lawyer and judge serving as a justice of the [Kansas Supreme Court](/source/Kansas_Supreme_Court). Appointed by Governor [Laura Kelly](/source/Laura_Kelly) in August 2025, she was sworn in later that year as the court's youngest sitting justice. Before joining the bench, Walsh was a partner at Sharp Law and senior counsel at Stueve Siegel Hanson, specializing in [civil rights](/source/civil_rights), [consumer protection](/source/consumer_protection), and [class action](/source/class_action) litigation. Her earlier legal career included two terms on the Kansas Board of Law Examiners, as well as service as a research attorney for the Kansas Supreme Court and a [law clerk](/source/law_clerk) for the [U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas](/source/U.S._District_Court_for_the_District_of_Kansas).

== Early life and education ==
Walsh was born in {{birth based on age as of date|46|2025|8|8|noage=y}} and is originally from the [Kansas City metropolitan area](/source/Kansas_City_metropolitan_area).<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |last=Kelly |first=Matthew |date=August 8, 2025 |title=Kansas' new Supreme Court justice could be last appointed before polarizing vote |url=https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article311624426.html |access-date=2025-12-24 |work=Kansas City Star}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |title=Supreme Court Justices |url=https://kscourts.gov/About-the-Courts/Supreme-Court/Supreme-Court-Justices/Supreme-Court-Justices/Larkin-Walsh |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251122010724/https://kscourts.gov/About-the-Courts/Supreme-Court/Supreme-Court-Justices/Supreme-Court-Justices/Larkin-Walsh |archive-date=2025-11-22 |access-date=2025-12-24 |work=Kansas Judicial Center |language=en-US}}</ref> She attended [Southern Methodist University](/source/Southern_Methodist_University), graduating in 2001 with B.A. degrees in English and studio art.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Kaminski |first=Anna |date=2025-11-21 |title=Newest addition to Kansas Supreme Court promises to be the justice all Kansans deserve |url=https://kansasreflector.com/2025/11/21/newest-addition-to-kansas-supreme-court-promises-to-be-the-justice-all-kansans-deserve/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251125072734/https://kansasreflector.com/2025/11/21/newest-addition-to-kansas-supreme-court-promises-to-be-the-justice-all-kansans-deserve/ |archive-date=2025-11-25 |access-date=2025-12-24 |work=Kansas Reflector |language=en-US}}</ref> She went on to earn her J.D. from the [University of Kansas School of Law](/source/University_of_Kansas_School_of_Law) in 2004.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

== Career ==
From 2005 to 2008, she worked as a research attorney for [Kansas Supreme Court](/source/Kansas_Supreme_Court) justice [Carol A. Beier](/source/Carol_A._Beier).<ref name=":0" /> She then served as a [law clerk](/source/law_clerk) for judge [Carlos Murguia](/source/Carlos_Murguia) at the [U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas](/source/U.S._District_Court_for_the_District_of_Kansas) from 2008 to 2012.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=September 17, 2025 |title=New Kansas Supreme Court justice sworn in |url=https://www.kake.com/home/new-kansas-supreme-court-justice-sworn-in/article_6047dc8c-6abb-4d03-bd54-f9e9c2d9808b.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250917190604/https://www.kake.com/home/new-kansas-supreme-court-justice-sworn-in/article_6047dc8c-6abb-4d03-bd54-f9e9c2d9808b.html |archive-date=2025-09-17 |access-date=2025-12-24 |work=KAKE |language=en}}</ref> Walsh returned to the Kansas Supreme Court to serve a second stint as a research attorney for justice Beier from 2012 to 2013.<ref name=":0" />

In 2013, Walsh joined the law firm Stueve Siegel Hanson as [of counsel](/source/of_counsel), where she worked until 2016.<ref name=":0" /> During this period, she was appointed to the Kansas Board of Law Examiners in 2014, eventually serving two five-year terms.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> She briefly practiced as an attorney at Chinnery Evans and Nail from 2016 to 2017.<ref name=":0" /> In 2017, she was selected to serve on the Bench-Bar Committee for the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas.<ref name=":2" />

Walsh joined Sharp Law in 2017 as an attorney, later becoming a partner at the firm and serving there until 2024.<ref name=":0" /> She returned to Stueve Siegel Hanson in 2024 as senior counsel, where her practice focused on [civil rights](/source/Civil_rights_law), [consumer protection](/source/consumer_protection), and [labor law](/source/Labour_law).<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Harvel |first=Jack |date=August 7, 2025 |title=Who Gov. Laura Kelly chose in what may be her last pick for Kansas Supreme Court |url=https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/politics/state/2025/08/07/laura-kelly-selects-larkin-walsh-to-fill-kansas-supreme-court-vacancy/85558933007/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250808110459/https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/politics/state/2025/08/07/laura-kelly-selects-larkin-walsh-to-fill-kansas-supreme-court-vacancy/85558933007/ |archive-date=2025-08-08 |access-date=2025-12-24 |work=The Topeka Capital-Journal |language=en-US}}</ref> Her biography at the firm highlighted her work advocating for survivors of [forced labor](/source/Forced_labour), human trafficking, and sexual abuse.<ref name=":5" /> Throughout her career, Walsh worked on [class action](/source/class_action) cases defending victims of sexual abuse, including litigation against [Ohio State University](/source/Ohio_State_University) that reached the [U.S. Supreme Court](/source/U.S._Supreme_Court). She withdrew from that case in January 2024.<ref name=":1" /> She also represented women in a medical privacy lawsuit against [Lawrence Memorial Hospital](/source/Lawrence_Memorial_Hospital_(Kansas)) and the [University of Kansas Hospital Authority](/source/University_of_Kansas_Health_System) before withdrawing as counsel in August 2025.<ref name=":1" />

Walsh has been involved with the [Kansas Bar Association](/source/Kansas_Bar_Association)'s ''Annual Survey of Law'' for 20 years, serving first as co-chair and later as editor.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

=== Kansas Supreme Court ===
On June 14, 2025, the [Kansas Supreme Court Nominating Commission](/source/Kansas_Supreme_Court_Nominating_Commission) selected Walsh as one of three finalists to fill a vacancy on the state's high court.<ref name=":3" /> She was 46 years old at the time of her selection and was the only nominee who did not already hold a seat on a local court bench.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Hicks |first=Dane |date=2025-06-13 |title=Party-switching judge nominees flipped, flopped during various U.S., Kansas political eras |url=https://kaninfo.com/news/party-switching-judge-nominees-flipped-flopped-during-various-u-s-kansas-political-eras/ |access-date=2025-12-24 |website=Kansas Informer |language=en-US}}</ref> Governor [Laura Kelly](/source/Laura_Kelly) appointed her to the Kansas Supreme Court on August 7, 2025.<ref name=":3" /> Walsh succeeded justice [Evelyn Wilson](/source/Evelyn_Wilson), who had resigned following a diagnosis of [Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis](/source/Amyotrophic_Lateral_Sclerosis) (ALS).<ref name=":2" />

Upon her appointment, Walsh pledged to interpret the law "irrespective of popular opinion or the political winds."<ref name=":5" /> Her selection drew criticism from [Kansas Senate](/source/Kansas_Senate) president [Ty Masterson](/source/Ty_Masterson), who remarked that he hoped Walsh would "discover a judicial philosophy," noting that she had indicated during the selection process that she did not have one.<ref name=":5" />

Voter registration records indicate that Walsh has held varying political affiliations over the years. She was registered as a [Democrat](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States)) in 2008 before switching to the [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) party in 2012.<ref name=":4" /> After periods of being registered as [Unaffiliated](/source/Unaffiliated_voter) and Republican between 2012 and 2018, she registered as a Republican in the fall of 2020 and maintained that affiliation through her appointment in 2025.<ref name=":4" />

Walsh was informally sworn in on September 17, 2025, allowing her to commence her official duties.<ref name=":2" /> Her formal swearing-in ceremony took place on November 21, 2025, where she was administered the oath of office by acting chief justice [Eric S. Rosen](/source/Eric_S._Rosen).<ref name=":1" /> At the time of her swearing-in, Walsh was the youngest justice on the court.<ref name=":1" /> Her initial term runs from September 2025 to January 2027, and she will face a retention vote after her first year in office.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

As a justice, Walsh is assigned to the 4th Judicial Department, which encompasses the 6th, 10th, 11th, 14th, and 31st judicial districts.<ref name=":0" /> She also serves as the departmental liaison to several committees, including the Attorney Registration and the Kansas Continuing Legal Education Board.<ref name=":0" />

== Personal life ==
Walsh resides in [Leawood, Kansas](/source/Leawood%2C_Kansas).<ref name=":1" /> As of 2025, she has been married to her husband, Matt, for 20 years, and they have four children.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{s-start}} 
{{s-legal}} 
{{s-bef|before=[Evelyn Wilson](/source/Evelyn_Wilson)}} 
{{s-ttl|title={{nowrap|Justice of the [Kansas Supreme Court](/source/Kansas_Supreme_Court)}}|years=2025–present}} 
{{s-inc}} 
{{s-end}}

{{Current Kansas statewide political officials}}
{{KansasSupremeCourt}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Walsh, Larkin}}
Category:1970s births
Category:21st-century American women judges
Category:Date of birth missing (living people)
Category:Justices of the Kansas Supreme Court
Category:Kansas Democrats
Category:Kansas Republicans
Category:Living people
Category:People from Leawood, Kansas
Category:Place of birth missing (living people)
Category:Southern Methodist University alumni
Category:University of Kansas School of Law alumni
Category:Women in Kansas politics

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Larkin Walsh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larkin_Walsh) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larkin_Walsh?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.