12th Judicial District Nominating Committee seeks nominees for district magistrate judge vacancy

TOPEKA—The 12th Judicial District Nominating Commission is seeking nominations to fill a district magistrate judge vacancy in Lincoln County created when Judge Brian Grace retires October 1.
 
The 12th Judicial District is composed of Cloud, Jewell, Lincoln, Mitchell, Republic, and Washington counties.
 
Justice K.J. Wall, the Supreme Court departmental justice responsible for the 12th Judicial District, said nominees can apply or be nominated, but it must be on a nomination form and include the nominee's signature.
 
Eligibility requirements
 
Kansas law requires this district magistrate judge be:
 

• a resident of Lincoln County at the time of taking office and while holding office;

• a graduate of a high school, a secondary school, or the equivalent; and

• either a lawyer admitted to practice in Kansas or able to pass an examination given by the Supreme Court to become certified within 18 months.

 
Nomination process
 
Nominations must be accompanied by a nomination form available from the clerk of the district court in Cloud, Jewell, Lincoln, Mitchell, Republic, or Washington counties, the clerk of the appellate courts in the Kansas Judicial Center in Topeka.
 
Nomination forms may be submitted electronically or by paper copy. If submitting by paper copy, one original and 12 copies of the completed nomination form and supporting letters must be submitted by noon Monday, September 20, to:
 
Justice K.J. Wall
Kansas Judicial Center
301 SW 10th Ave.
Topeka, KS 66612-1507
 
The nomination form includes instructions for electronic submission.
 
Interviews and appointment
 
The nominating commission will convene by videoconference to interview nominees at 10 a.m., Tuesday, October 12. Interviews are open to the public and will be livestreamed on the Kansas judicial branch YouTube channel. The commission will then appoint a district magistrate judge.
Public access

At the beginning of the October 12 meeting, the public will have the opportunity to provide comment. To comment:
call 1-877-400-9499; and
enter conference code 2199381974.
 
Accommodation

Any person with a disability who requires accommodation to access the nominating commission meetings should notify the judicial branch ADA coordinator as early as possible, preferably 10 working days before the meeting date:
 
ADA Coordinator
ADA@kscourts.org
785-296-2256
TTY at 711
 
Term of office
 
After serving one year in office, the new magistrate 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 12th Judicial District Nominating Commission consists of Wall as the nonvoting chair; Carol Good, Barnard; William Navis, Belleville; Dwight Daniels, Curtis Frasier, and Jerry Harrison, Beloit; Dana Brewer and J. Bradley Lowell, Concordia; Tanner Johnson, Courtland; Daniel Metz, Lincoln; Darrell Miller and Roger Rightmeier, Mankato; and Bruce Meyer, Palmer.