The Hon. Paula D. Hofaker is a judge for the 17th Judicial District Court of Kansas. She was appointed to the seat by Governor Laura Kelly in October 2022, after the Kansas Supreme Court converted a magistrate position to the district judge division.
The 17th Judicial District includes Decatur, Graham, Norton, Osborne, Phillips, and Smith Counties.
Hofaker served as a district magistrate for the 17th Judicial District since her election to the bench in 2012. Before that, she was an attorney in Hill City.
Hofaker received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas. She then completed a J.D. at Washburn University School of Law.
Hofaker served as a member of the 17th Judicial District Law Library Board and the Northwest Kansas Juvenile Services Board.
She is registered as a Republican.