1st Judicial District Nominating Commission seeks nominees for district judge

TOPEKA—The 1st Judicial District Nominating Commission is seeking nominations to fill a district judge vacancy in Leavenworth County.
 
The vacancy will be created when District Judge Dan Wiley retires July 6.
 
The 1st Judicial District is composed of Atchison and Leavenworth counties.
 
Justice Eric S. Rosen, the Supreme Court departmental justice responsible for the 1st 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

To be considered for district judge, a nominee 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 judicial district at the time of taking office and while holding office.

Nomination process
 
Nominations must be accompanied by a nomination form available from the clerk of the district court in Atchison and Leavenworth counties or the clerk of the appellate courts in the Kansas Judicial Center in Topeka, or online at kscourts.gov/judge/vacancies.
 
One original and eight copies of the completed nomination form and supporting letters must be submitted by noon Friday, July 25, to:
 
Kevin Reardon, secretary
1st Judicial District Nominating Commission
2300 S 4th St
Leavenworth, KS 66048
 
The nominating commission will convene to interview nominees Thursday, August 28, at a location to be announced later. Interviews are open to the public.
 
Appointment process
 
The nominating commission seeks nominations and then meets to interview the nominees. Interviews are open to the public. The commission selects three to five people whose names are 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.
 
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 1st Judicial District Nominating Commission consists of Justice Eric S. Rosen as the nonvoting chair; Robert Bednar, Kevin Hill, and Bradley Sherffius, Atchison; G. Ronald Bates Jr., Gregory Beck, and Kevin Reardon, Leavenworth; and Lois Meadows, Tonganoxie.