TOPEKA—The 3rd Judicial District Nominating Commission is seeking nominations to fill a district judge vacancy in Shawnee County created when Chief Judge Evelyn Wilson leaves her position to become a justice of the Kansas Supreme Court on January 24.
Justice Caleb Stegall, the Supreme Court departmental justice responsible for the 3rd Judicial District, composed of Shawnee County, said individuals can apply or be nominated, but nominations must come on a nomination form and include the nominee'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, the clerk of the appellate courts at the Kansas Judicial Center, the Kansas judicial branch, or the district court website at http://www.shawneecourt.org/.
One original and one copy of the completed nomination form and supporting letters must be submitted by noon Wednesday, February 5, to:
Justice Caleb Stegall
Kansas Judicial Center
301 SW 10th Ave.
Topeka KS 66612
The nominating commission will convene to interview nominees at 9 a.m. Friday, February 28, in the Shawnee County Courthouse, 200 SE 7th St. 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.
After serving one year in office, the new judge must stand for a retention vote in the next general election to remain in the position. If retained, the incumbent will serve a four-year term.
The 3rd Judicial District Nominating Commission consists of Stegall as the nonvoting chair, Terry Beck, Daniel Crow, Thomas Lemon, Randall Phillips, and Eric Stafford, all of Topeka, and Toby McCullough, Rossville.