The Hon. Blake A. Bittel (Ret.) served as a judge for the 23rd Judicial District Court of Kansas. He was appointed to the bench by former Governor Sam Brownback on August 3, 2016, filling a vacancy created by the resignation of the Hon. Edward Bouker. Bittel retired from the bench in 2021.
The 23rd Judicial District encompasses Ellis, Gove, Rooks, and Trego Counties.
Prior to his appointment, Bittel was a partner at Kennedy Berkley Yarnevich & Williamson, a law firm he joined in 2011. Before that, he was an attorney at Oller, Johnson & Bittel (2007 to 2011). During this time, he specialized in civil litigation, expanding his practice to incorporate family and criminal law.
Bittel earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Fort Hays State University in 1994. He then completed a J.D. at Oklahoma City University School of Law in 1997.
After graduating from law school, Bittel entered into private practice, representing individuals and businesses in complex litigation in state and federal courts in Oklahoma City. He started as an attorney at Abowitz, Timberlake & Dahnke. He remained with the firm until 2000, at which time he joined Hiltgen & Brewer. Then, in 2002, he returned to Abowitz, Timberlake, Dahnke & Gisinger.
Born in WaKeeney, Kansas, Bittel was raised on a farm in Ellis, Kansas, where he attended Ellis High School. He and his wife, Rayna, have five children.
He is registered as a Republican.