Sarah Hess

Sarah joined the Kansas Federal Public Defender in 2026. She graduated from Kansas State University in 2009 and received her J.D. from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law in 2013. Before joining the office, Sarah was an attorney at Sandage Law LLC, a criminal-defense firm in Kansas City, Missouri. For the last 12 years, Sarah devoted much of her practice to representing indigent criminal defendants as a CJA Panel Member in both the District of Kansas and the Western District of Missouri. 

Sarah has been recognized as a Missouri/Kansas Super Lawyer in Criminal Defense - White Collar and was previously named a Rising Star in the same field.
 

Outside of work, Sarah enjoys spending time with her family, serving as Cookie Mom for both of her daughters' Girl Scout troops, and helping coach their softball teams. She is also a fan of Broadway musicals and loves listening to showtunes.