9th Judicial District Nominating Commission to meet September 2

UPDATE: The nominating commission will meet by Zoom videoconference livestreamed on Youtube. 

TOPEKA—The 9th Judicial District Nominating Commission will convene by Zoom videoconference at 3 p.m. Thursday, September 2, to review nominations to fill a district judge vacancy created by Judge Joe Dickinson’s September 18 retirement.

The 9th Judicial District is composed of Harvey and McPherson counties.

Public access

The Zoom meeting will broadcast live on the Kansas judicial branch YouTube channel.

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 meeting should notify the judicial branch ADA coordinator as early as possible:

ADA Coordinator
ADA@kscourts.org
785-296-2256
TTY at 711

Nominees
 
The nominees are:
 

• David Justin Bravi, of Bravi Law, LLC, and deputy public defender with the Reno County Public Defender’s Office, McPherson

• Jason Robert Lane, county attorney, Harvey County Attorney’s Office, Newton

• Michael Xavier Llamas, self-employed with Llamas Law, LLC; city prosecutor in Hesston; and municipal court judge in the cities of Walton, Burrton, and Florence, Newton

• Matthew Levi Morris, Barton County Attorney, Great Bend

 
Eligibility requirements

Kansas law requires that this district magistrate judge 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 9th judicial district at the time of taking office and while holding office.

Public interviews

The nominating commission will convene at 8:30 a.m. Friday, September 10, to inteveriew nominees. The meeting will be in the Community Room at the Harvey County Courthouse in Newton. Interviews are open to the public. 

The interview schedule will be announced once it's finalized. 

Anyone who attends the interviews must follow minimum standard health protocols set by the Supreme Court. These include answering questions at check-in about symptoms of or possible exposure to COVID-19, wearing a face mask while in the building, and maintaining 6 feet of physical distance from others. 

Term of office

After serving one year in office, the 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 9th Judicial District Nominating Commission consists of Justice Melissa Taylor Standridge as the nonvoting chair; Thomas  Adrian, George “Chip” Westfall, Jana McKinney, and John  Robb, all of Newton; Michael  Androes, Harris  Terry, and Ann Elliott, all of McPherson; and Amie Bauer of Lindsborg.