TOPEKA—Four people applied to fill a judge vacancy in the 4th Judicial District, which includes Anderson, Coffey, Franklin and Osage counties.
The 4th Judicial District Nominating Commission will convene at 9:15 a.m. Friday, August 22, in the Franklin County Courthouse in Ottawa to interview nominees. The meeting will be open to the public.
The four nominees are:
Sheila Marie Schultz, who currently is in private practice with Winkler, Domoney & Schultz in Paola, and is a part-time municipal judge for the City of Paola and the City of Osawatomie. She also is pro tem for the County of Miami’s code court. Her past experience includes working as a hearing officer with the Miami County District Court. She is a graduate of Washburn University School of Law.
Frederick L. Meier II, who currently is a solo practitioner in Emporia. His past experience includes working in private practice with Hackler, Londerholm, Corder, Martin and Hackler in Olathe, as assistant county attorney with the Miami County Attorney’s Office, and assistant county attorney and then deputy county attorney with the Franklin County Attorney’s Office. He is a graduate of Washburn University School of Law.
Brandon Lance Jones, who currently is Anderson County Attorney and Osage County Attorney. His past experience includes working as county counselor/administrator with the Osage County Attorney’s Office, as special assistant attorney with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas, assistant district attorney with the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office, adjunct professor with the Neosho County Community College, and assistant county attorney with the Franklin County Attorney’s Office. He is a graduate of the University of Kansas School of Law.
Douglas Paul Witteman, who currently is Coffey County Attorney. His past experience includes working in private practice as a principle attorney for the law firm Patterson, Nelson, Nolla & Witteman, L.C., and as an associate attorney with Hinkle, Eberhart & Elkouri, L.L.C., both of Wichita. He is a graduate of Washburn University School of Law.
Kansas law requires the commission to submit at least two names, but not more than three, to the governor, who will choose one to appoint.
A judge must be a resident of the district, be at least 30 years old, have actively practiced law for at least five years, and be admitted to practice law in Kansas.
The 4th Judicial District Nominating Commission consists of Justice Eric Rosen as the nonvoting chair; and James R. Campbell, Burlington; Sara E. Caylor, Ottawa; Craig E. Cole, Garnett; Thomas B. DeBaun, Osage City; Forrest A. Lowry, Ottawa; Eugene E. Highberger, Westphalia; Janet C. Walsh, Lyndon; and Timothy A. Sipe, Waverly.