Candidate names to be sent to governor for judicial vacancy in Shawnee County

TOPEKA — The 3rd Judicial District Nominating Commission will send the names of three candidates for district court judge to Gov. Sam Brownback, who has 60 days to decide who will fill the vacancy created by the September 30 retirement of Shawnee County District Judge Frank Yeoman Jr.

The three candidates are:

• Lee J. Davidson, Topeka, an assistant attorney general in the criminal litigation division

• Steven M. Roth, Topeka, an administrative law judge for the Kansas Department of Labor

• Kelly J. Trussell, Topeka, an attorney with Sloan, Eisenbarth, Glassman, McEntire & Jarboe and a judge pro tem for Shawnee County District Court

A candidate for district judge must be a lawyer admitted to practice in Kansas and have been 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. The candidate also must be a resident of Shawnee County at the time of taking office and maintain that residency while holding office.

The 3rd Judicial District Nominating Commission consists of Justice Marla J. Luckert of the Kansas Supreme Court as the nonvoting chair; Terry E. Beck, Daniel W. Crow, Thomas G. Lemon, Jolene C. Miller, and W. Eric Stafford, all of Topeka; and Toby L. McCullough of Rossville.