8th Judicial District Nominating Commission seeks nominees for two district judge vacancies

TOPEKA—The 8th Judicial District Nominating Commission is seeking nominations to fill two district judge vacancies.
 
Judge Steven Hornbaker, who served in Geary County, retired June 1. Chief Judge Michael Powers will retire August 20. His position is based in Marion County.
 
The 8th Judicial District is composed of Dickinson, Geary, Marion, and Morris counties.
 
Justice Caleb Stegall, the Supreme Court departmental justice responsible for the 8th Judicial District, said individuals can apply or be nominated, but nominations must come on a nomination form and include the nominee's signature.
 
Eligibility requirements
 
A nominee for district judge must be: 

• at least 30 years old; and

• 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.

Nominees for Hornbaker’s position must be a resident of the judicial district at the time of taking office and while holding office.
 
Nominees for Powers’ position must be a resident of Marion County at the time of taking office and while holding office.
 
Nomination process
 
Nominations must include a nomination form available from the clerk of the district court in Dickinson, Geary, Marion, or Morris counties; the clerk of the appellate courts in the Kansas Judicial Center in Topeka; or online at www.kscourts.org/Judges/Become-a-Judge.
 
Nominations may be submitted electronically or by paper copy, and one nomination form can be used for both vacancies. The deadline to submit a nomination with supporting documents is noon Tuesday, July 13.
 
Electronic submissions can be sent to jdnc.nominationform@kscourts.org
 
Paper submissions require one original and eight copies to be sent to:
 
Justice Caleb Stegall
Kansas Judicial Center
301 SW 10th Ave.
Topeka KS 66612
 
Public interviews
 
The nominating commission will convene to interview nominees at 9 a.m. Wednesday, August 18. The location will be announced later. Interviews are open to the public.
 
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, preferably 10 working days before the meeting date:
 
ADA Coordinator
ADA@kscourts.org
785-296-2256
TTY at 711
 
Nominees to governor
 
The nominating commission will select from three to five people whose names will be submitted to the governor to fill the position according to statutory qualification and residency requirements. The governor has 60 days after receiving the names to decide whom to appoint.
 
If there are not three nominees who reside in the judicial district who are deemed qualified by the commission, the commission may consider nominees who reside outside the district.
 
Term of office
 
After serving one year in office, a 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 8th Judicial District Nominating Commission consists of Stegall as the nonvoting chair; Kevin Harris and Douglas Thompson, Abilene; Ashley Iverson, Council Grove; Darrell Miller, Dwight; Keith Henry, Junction City; Daryl Enos and Edwin Wheeler Jr., Marion; and Eric Coffman, Milford.