8th Judicial District Nominating Commission to interview nominees for district magistrate judge vacancy

TOPEKA—The 8th Judicial District Nominating Commission will convene at 9 a.m. Friday, November 18, to interview nominees for a district magistrate judge vacancy.  
 
The vacancy will be created when Judge Margaret White retires January 1, 2023.  
 
The 8th Judicial District is composed of Dickinson, Geary, Marion, and Morris counties. 
 
Public access  
 
Interviews are open to the public. They will take place at:  
 
Morris County Courthouse  
501 W Main St  
Council Grove, KS  
 
The interview schedule will be announced once it’s finalized.  
 
The nominees are:  

• Jay Troxell, Council Grove, owner and CFO, Tiptoz Dance Company LLC  

• Laura Viar, Council Grove, county attorney, Morris County  

• Ryan Young, White City, detective sergeant, Morris County Sheriff’s Office

 
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  
 
District magistrate judge appointment process  

To be considered for district magistrate judge, a nominee must be:  

• a resident of Morris County at the time of taking office and while holding office;  

• a graduate of a high school, a secondary school, or the equivalent; and  

• either a lawyer admitted to practice in Kansas or able to pass an examination to become certified within 18 months.  

 
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 Justice Caleb Stegall as the nonvoting chair; Douglas Thompson, Abilene; Ashley Iverson, Council Grove; Darrell Miller, Dwight; Robin Volkman, Hope; Keith Henry, Junction City; Daryl Enos and Edwin Wheeler Jr., Marion; and Eric Coffman, Milford.