Assistant Attorney General Amy Hanley, of the Kansas Attorney General’s Office, was named Associate Member Prosecutor of the Year by the Kansas County and District Attorneys Assocation.

The award is presented to a prosecutor for outstanding prosecution of one or more cases during the year by someone who doesn’t work in a county or district attorney’s office.

Hanley, a native of Lost Springs and graduate of Centre High School, successfully prosecuted the capital murder case of James Kraig Kahler, who killed four people in 2009 in Burlingame.

“Amy is a first-rate prosecutor,” Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said. “Amy brings a strong sense of professionalism to the courtroom. She has contributed to public safety by putting violent criminals behind bars.”

Deputy Attorney General Vic Braden nominated Hanley, praising her work obtaining two convictions in difficult homicide cases in the past year, as well as prosecutions cases of sexual exploitation of children.

Hanley joined the Kansas Attorney General’s Office in 2009 after seven years as assistant county attorney in Saline County. In addition to her work as a prosecutor, she is an adjunct instructor at Washburn University School of Law, where she teaches a course on trial advocacy.

She received her bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University and her juris doctor from Drake University. Kent and Jean Brunner of Lost Springs are her parents.