11th Judicial District Nominating Commission to interview seven nominees for vacancy in Crawford County

TOPEKA — The 11th Judicial Nominating Commission will convene January 18, 2018, to interview nominees to fill a district judge vacancy in Crawford County created by the December 18, 2017, retirement of Chief Judge A.J. Wachter.

The commission will convene at 9 a.m. in the Law Library of the Crawford County Judicial Center, 602 N. Locust, Pittsburg. Interviews are open to the public.

The 11th Judicial District is composed of Cherokee, Crawford, and Labette counties.

The interview schedule:

• 9:40 a.m. — Steven A. Stockard, Pittsburg, who is in private practice and is assistant county attorney for Bourbon and Crawford counties

• 10 a.m. — Frederick R. Smith, Farlington, who is in private practice and is Pittsburg Municipal Court judge and city attorney for Arma

• 10:20 a.m. — John G. Mazurek, Pittsburg, who is in private practice and is city prosecutor for Pittsburg

• 10:40 a.m. — Judge Samuel Marsh, Columbus, who is a Cherokee County district magistrate judge

• 11 a.m. — break

• 11:20 a.m. — Michael Gayoso Jr., Baxter Springs, who is county attorney for Crawford County

• 11:40 a.m. — Mary Jennifer Brunetti, Frontenac, who is in private practice

• Noon — David S. Brake, Girard, who is in private practice

The commission will select at least three nominees whose names will be submitted to the governor to fill the position according to statutory qualification and residency requirements. The governor has 60 days after receiving the names to decide whom to appoint.

Nominees for this district judge position 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 Crawford County at the time of taking office and while holding office.

Supreme Court Justice Lee A. Johnson is the nonvoting chair of the nominating commission. Members are District Judge Oliver K. Lynch and Charles W. Sweeton, Baxter Springs; John W. Lehman, Girard; Richard G. Tucker and James K. Cook, Parsons; and Sara S. Beezley, Pittsburg.