While a student at the University of Kansas Law School, Rebecca interned with the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office. Upon graduating, she chose to relocate to Wichita. Here she began her legal career as an assistant city prosecutor for the City of Wichita. She served as the first night court prosecutor for persons accused of driving under the influence.
In late 1984, she was offered and accepted a position with the Sedgwick County District Attorneys office. There she rose through the ranks and ultimately prosecuted major criminal cases and specialized in arson prosecutions.
In 1987, she joined the law firm of Render and Kamas. Her responsibilities with the firm included a wide variety of civil litigation, including medical malpractice and personal injury.
In January of 1990, Rebecca opened her own diverse practice where she handled family law, criminal, civil, juvenile and probate.
In 1993, the Governor of the State of Kansas appointed Rebecca to the 18th Judicial District as a District Court Judge. Judge Pilshaw’s primary assignment has been with the criminal department but she has also served in the civil, family law and traffic departments. During her ten years on the bench she has presided over at least 200 jury trials and hundreds of preliminary hearings and bench trials, all the while performing her other duties. She has also been assigned to serve with the Court of Appeals.
In 2003 Judge Pilshaw volunteered to serve as presiding judge in the traffic department. While serving, she implemented numerous changes that have and will continue to save the taxpayers money. For example, Judge Pilshaw started the practice of making court appointments via email and implemented a paperless system for traffic files. She also reorganized the docket systems making them more public friendly, and enabling law enforcement to spend less time in court and more time on the streets serving the public. Those are just two examples of her drive to make the Eighteenth Judicial District more efficient and less burdensome for tax payers.
Her other accomplishments as a District Court Judge include: 1. Presented with the Distinguished Government Service Award by the Kansas Bar Association. 2. Presented with Woman of Valor Award by the YWCA. 3. Served on the Court of Appeals. 4. Served on the District Court Judges Association which is the executive committee representing all District Court Judges across the state. This was an appointment by her peers, reflecting her respect by District Court Judges statewide.
Judge Pilshaw has earned your vote through her service, accomplishments and hard work.
Rebecca was born in 1952 in Madisonville, Kentucky, the oldest of Bob and Betty Pilshaw’s children. After moving around as a small child, the family settled in Overland Park, Kansas when she was 6 years old.
Rebecca was always very independent and at 19 moved to Arizona. Rather than finish college at this time, she embarked on numerous adventures. During this period she worked in a variety of fields: as a factory worker for Motorola, as a waitress, a clerk in a jewelry store and as a bookkeeper. She continued to take college courses part time as well.
Eventually she returned to Kansas and enrolled in Avila college, where she obtained a B.A. in Economics. During her senior year at Avila, she was the recipient of the Wall Street Journal Award for Outstanding Achievement in Economics.
Rebecca also earned her commercial pilot’s license and instrument rating in the mid 1970’s. She learned how to fly a tail dragger and aerobatics from a former Flying Tiger and was a frequent sky diver as well.
After her graduation from Avila, Rebecca attended the University of Kansas Law school, graduating in 1984 (although her final classes were in December 1983). While she was a student at KU, Rebecca worked for the Legal Aid Clinic and became its student director her third year. But it was her internship with the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s office that had the greatest impact on her life, bringing her to Wichita, her home since 1984.
In one of the happiest moments of her life, Rebecca adopted her son, Sam, in 1991. Sam is in the eleventh grade and is active in just about every sport, but especially in soccer and swimming.
Despite her busy schedule as a judge and single mother, Rebecca still makes time to give to others. She is the past president of the Make-A-Wish foundation and has volunteered for many other organizations devoted to children.
In 1999, Rebecca undertook a major responsibility when she and Sam decided to open their home to foster children. After undergoing intense training, Rebecca became a therapeutic foster parent, which means that she provided care for children with the greatest needs. She mentored a 17 year old foster daughter who lived with her for more than 2 years while starting her first year of college. She also had a 7 year old foster son who was with her for more than a year.
In her spare time Rebecca loves to read, play bridge and ride bikes with her son.