2nd Judicial District Nominating Commission sends names of three nominees for judge to governor

TOPEKA— The 2nd Judicial District Nominating Commission has sent the names of three nominees for district judge to Gov. Laura Kelly, who has 60 days to decide who will fill the Jefferson County vacancy created by Chief Judge Gary Nafziger's January 11 retirement.

The 2nd Judicial District is composed of Jackson, Jefferson, Pottawatomie, and Wabaunsee counties.

The nominees are:

• Christopher Etzel, Havensville, private practice lawyer and city attorney for Onaga, Havensville, and Wheaton;

• Shawna Miller, Holton, county attorney for Jackson County and municipal judge for Hoyt and Mayetta; and

• Joshua Ney, Lawrence, county attorney for Jefferson County.

Eligibility requirements

Nominees for district judge 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 the 2nd Judicial District at the time of taking office and while holding office.

Term of office

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.

Nominating commission

The 2nd Judicial District Nominating Commission consists of Supreme Court Justice Evelyn Wilson as the nonvoting interim chair; David Allen, Circleville; Charles Waugh, Eskridge; J. Richard Lake, Holton; D. Max Fuller, Maple Hill; Norma Dunnaway, Perry; and Edward Pugh, Eugene Scherer, and John Watt, Wamego.