TOPEKA — The 3rd Judicial District Nominating Commission is seeking nominations to fill a district judge vacancy in Shawnee County created by the March 30 retirement of Judge Larry D. Hendricks.
The 3rd Judicial District is composed of Shawnee County.
Justice Marla J. Luckert, the Supreme Court departmental justice responsible for the 3rd Judicial District, said candidates can apply or be nominated, but nominations must come on a nomination form and include the candidate's signature.
A nominee for district judge must be:
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at least 30 years old;
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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
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a resident of the judicial district at the time of taking office and while holding office.
Nominations must be accompanied by a nomination form available from the clerk of the Shawnee County District Court, from the clerk of the appellate courts at the Kansas Judicial Center, on the Kansas judicial branch website, or on the district court website.
One original and seven copies of the completed nomination form and supporting letters must be submitted by noon Friday, February 16, to:
Justice Marla J. Luckert
Kansas Judicial Center
301 SW 10th Ave., Room 315
Topeka KS 66612
The nominating commission will convene to interview nominees at 9 a.m. Friday, February 23, in the Shawnee County Courthouse. Interviews are open to the public.
The commission will select from three to five nominees whose names will be submitted to the governor to fill the position according to statutory qualification and residency requirements. If there are not three nominees who reside in the district who are deemed qualified by the commission, the commission may consider nominees who reside outside the judicial district. The governor has 60 days after receiving the names to decide whom to appoint.
The 3rd Judicial District Nominating Commission consists of Luckert as the nonvoting chair; Terry E. Beck, Daniel W. Crow, Thomas G. Lemon, Jolene C. Miller, and W. Eric Stafford, all of Topeka; and Toby L. McCullough of Rossville.