25th Judicial District Nominating Commission announces interview schedule for district judge vacancy

TOPEKA—The 25th Judicial District Nominating Commission will convene at 9 a.m. Friday, September 30, to interview nominees for a district judge vacancy.  
 
The vacancy will be created when Judge Wendel Wurst retires January 6, 2023.  
 
The 25th Judicial District is composed of Finney, Greeley, Hamilton, Kearny, Scott, and Wichita counties. 
 
Interview schedule  
 
9:15 a.m.  
 
Brian Sherwood, Garden City, assistant deputy Finney County attorney  
 
10 a.m.  
 
Lara Blake Bors, Garden City, president and attorney, Bors Law, P.A.  
 
10:45 a.m.  
 
Timothy Robert Woods, Garden City, district magistrate judge, 25th Judicial District 
 
11:30 a.m.  
 
Christopher James Velez, Syracuse, district magistrate judge, 25th Judicial District  
 
12:15 p.m.  
 
Rebecca Jean Faurot, Scott City, attorney, Rebecca J. Faurot Attorney at Law, LLC; Scott County attorney; and City of Leoti attorney  
 
Public comment will be accepted after the interviews at 1 p.m.  
 
Public access  
 
Interviews are open to the public. They will take place at:  
 
Finney County Courthouse  
Room 301  
425 N 8th  
Garden City, KS 67846  
 
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  
 
Eligibility requirements  
 
A nominee for district judge 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.   

Nominees to governor  
 
The nominating commission will select three to five people whose names will be submitted to the governor to fill this 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, 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 25th Judicial District Nominating Commission consists of Justice Dan Biles as the nonvoting chair; Jennifer Cunningham, Lucille Douglass, Walker Frey, John Lindner, Zachary Schultz, and William Heydman, Garden City; Ralph Goodnight, Lakin; Rita Wiles, Leoti; Christine Cupp, Scott City; Robert Gale Jr. and Megan Larkin, Syracuse; and Joyce Huddleston, Tribune.