TOPEKA — The 30th Judicial District Nominating Commission is seeking nominations to fill a district judge vacancy in Sumner County created when Judge R. Scott McQuin retires August 15.
The 30th Judicial District is composed of Barber, Harper, Kingman, Pratt, and Sumner counties.
Justice Eric Rosen, the Supreme Court departmental justice temporarily responsible for the 30th Judicial District, said persons can apply or be nominated by others for the position, but each applicant or nominee must submit a completed nomination form and release, including the nominee's signature.
Eligibility requirements
A nominee for district judge must be:
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at least 30 years old;
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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
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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 Barber, Harper, Kingman, Pratt, or Sumner counties or the clerk of the appellate courts in the Kansas Judicial Center in Topeka.
One original and 11 copies of the completed nomination form and supporting letters or other relevant documents must be submitted by noon Friday, August 28, to:
Office of Justice Eric Rosen
ATTN: Shelby Swafford
Kansas Judicial Center
301 SW 10th Avenue, Room 314
Topeka, KS. 66612-1507
The nominating commission will convene at 8:15 a.m. September 30 in Wellington to interview nominees. The commission will announce if it changes how it will meet because of pandemic concerns.
Nominees to governor
The commission will select from three to five nominees whose names will be submitted to the governor to fill the position according to statutory qualification and residency requirements. If there are not three nominees who reside in the district who are deemed qualified by the commission, the commission may consider nominees who reside outside the judicial district. 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 30th Judicial District Nominating Commission consists of Rosen as the nonvoting chair; Hannah Brass, Medicine Lodge; Sidney Burkholder, Harper; Lance Dixon, Kingman; Justin Goodno, Kiowa; Robert Eisenhauer, Pratt; Elaine Esparza, Harper; Alan Goering, Medicine Lodge; Gregory Graffman, Kingman; Melvin Matlock, Belle Plaine; and Jason Roberts, Pratt.