Become a Judge

District judge or district magistrate judge 

Judges of the district court are selected in one of two ways. One is by merit selection and retention vote, and the other is by partisan ballot. In either method, judges serve four-year terms.

A nominee for district judge must be:

• at least 30 years old;

• a lawyer admitted to practice in Kansas and engaged in the practice of law for at least five years, whether as a lawyer, judge, or full-time teacher at an accredited law school; and

• a resident of the judicial district at the time of taking office and while holding office.

A nominee for district magistrate judge must be:

• a resident of the county at the time of taking office and while holding office; 

• a graduate of a high school, a secondary school, or the equivalent; and

• either a lawyer admitted to practice in Kansas or able to pass an examination given by the Supreme Court to become certified within 18 months.​

Become a district judge through retention or partisan ballot

Become a district judge through merit selection
Vacancies in merit-selection districts
 

Court of Appeals judge

When there is a vacancy on the Court of Appeals, the governor accepts applications and makes the appointment, subject to a majority vote of the Senate.

An applicant must be at least 30 years old and have been a Kansas lawyer, judge, or full-time teacher at an accredited law school for at least 10 years.

To express interest in becoming a Court of Appeals judge, notify the governor's Office of Appointments. 

Supreme Court justice

Justices are appointed to the Supreme Court through a merit-based nomination process Kansas voters added to our state Constitution in 1958. The process involves the nine-member Supreme Court Nominating Commission, which reviews nominees, and the governor, who makes the appointments.   

An applicant must be at least 30 years old and have been a Kansas lawyer, judge, or full-time teacher at an accredited law school for at least 10 years.

Supreme Court Nominating Commission