TOPEKA—The 3rd Judicial District Nominating Commission is seeking candidates to fill a judge vacancy in Shawnee County created by the retirement of District Court Judge Jean M. Schmidt.
Justice Marla Luckert, the Supreme Court departmental justice responsible for the 3rd Judicial District, said nominees can apply or be recommended, but recommendations must come on a nomination form and include the nominee’s signature.
“This is an open process to find the most qualified candidates in the district. Community members who know someone ideally suited for the job should encourage that person to apply, or volunteer to recommend him or her,” Luckert said.
Kansas law requires that a judge be a resident of the district, be at least 30 years old, be admitted to practice law in Kansas, and have actively practiced law for at least five years.
Recommendations must be accompanied by a nomination form available from the clerk’s office in the Shawnee County District Court. The form is also available from the clerk of the appellate courts at the Judicial Center in Topeka and on the Kansas Judicial Branch website.
Completed nomination forms and supporting letters are to be sent to Justice Marla J. Luckert, Kansas Judicial Center, 301 SW 10th, Room 315, Topeka, KS 66612, no later than noon, Friday, August 29.
The nominating commission will convene at 9 a.m. Monday, September 15, in the Shawnee County Courthouse, 200 SE 7th Street, Topeka, to interview nominees. The meeting will be open to the public.
Kansas law requires the commission to submit at least two names, but not more than three, to the governor, who will choose one to appoint.
Notice of this vacancy was sent to every attorney in this judicial district by the chairman of the commission.
The 3rd Judicial District Nominating Commission consists of Justice Marla Luckert as the nonvoting chair; Toby L. McCullough, Rossville; and Daniel W. Crow, Terry E. Beck, Jolene C. Miller, Thomas G. Lemon, and W. Eric Stafford, all of Topeka.