Six apply for district judge vacancy in Crawford County

TOPEKA--Six Crawford County attorneys have applied for a judicial vacancy that was created by the retirement of Chief Judge John C. Gariglietti. Friday was the deadline to apply for the vacancy in the 11th Judicial District, which includes the counties of Cherokee, Crawford, and Labette.

Applicants include: David Brake, of Henshall, Pennington & Brake in Chanute; Michael Gayoso, Jr., Crawford County Attorney in Girard; Kurtis Loy, of Loy & Sagehorn, LLc, Pittsburg; David Markham, of Tucker and Markham, Parsons; John Mazurek, of Mazurek Law Office, Pittsburg; and Steven Stockard, of Wilbert & Towner, P.A., Pittsburg.

The seven-member 11th Judicial District Nominating Commission will interview the applicants during public sessions on August 22 in the Pittsburg Courthouse. The commission is responsible for submitting the names of two or three nominees to the governor, who will have 30 days in which to make a selection.

The 11th district judicial nominating commission includes Justice Lee A. Johnson, as the nonvoting chair, and Sara S. Beezley, Girard; James K. Cook, Parsons; Hon. Oliver K. Lynch, Baxter Springs; John W. Lehman, Girard; Richard G. Tucker, Parsons; and Charles W. Sweeton, Baxter Springs.