Fourteen apply for Supreme Court vacancy

TOPEKA — Fourteen Kansas attorneys and judges applied by a noon deadline today to fill a vacancy on the Kansas Supreme Court created by the July 28 departure of Justice Nancy Moritz to serve on the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Applicants will be interviewed by the Supreme Court Nominating Commission Aug. 4 and 5 in the Fatzer Courtroom in the Kansas Judicial Center in Topeka. The interview schedule will be posted on the Kansas judicial branch website at www.kscourts.org. later in July.

The applicants are:

• Karen M. Arnold-Burger, judge, Overland Park

• Victor J. Braden, lawyer, Lawrence

• Daniel D. Creitz, judge, Erie

• Dennis D. Depew, lawyer, Neodesha

• Linda D. Kirby, lawyer, Wichita

• David R. Klaassen, lawyer, Marquette

• Thomas E. Malone, judge, Topeka

• Anthony W. Mattivi, lawyer, Topeka

• Steven C. Montgomery, judge, Spring Hill

• Steven J. Obermeier, lawyer, Olathe

• Anthony J. Powell, judge, Wichita

• Curtis O. Roggow, lawyer, Shawnee

• Caleb Stegall, judge, Lawrence

• Merlin G. Wheeler, judge, Emporia

Interviews will be open to the public and interested parties are encouraged to attend.

After interviewing applicants, the Supreme Court Nominating Commission will submit names of three qualified individuals to the governor. The governor will then choose from that list who to appoint to fill the Supreme Court vacancy.

The Supreme Court Nominating Commission is an independent body created by the Kansas Constitution. Its members are: Anne E. Burke, Chair, Overland Park; David J. Rebein, Dodge City; Linda B. Weis, Manhattan; Natalie G. Haag, Topeka; Felita R. Kahrs, Topeka; Matthew D. Keenan, Leawood; Robert Hayworth, Shawnee Mission; Jay F. Fowler, Wichita; and Gary T. Mason, Maize.