TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- The Kansas Supreme Court is giving its highest award to a Washburn University law professor who formerly served as the law school's dean and has a long history of helping write legal codes.

James Concannon will receive the court's Justice Award for service to the judiciary and the legal profession during a special session Friday afternoon in Topeka.

Concannon has been on the Washburn law school faculty since 1973 and served as its dean from 1988 to 2001. Among other things, he serves on committees that review and revise standard instructions for juries and procedures for civil lawsuits.

The Supreme Court bestows the award when it feels it has a worthy candidate in a given year.