11th Judicial District Nominating Commission to interview nominees for district judge vacancy in Crawford County

TOPEKA — The 11th Judicial Nominating Commission will convene January 18, 2018, to interview nominees to fill a district judge vacancy in Crawford County created by the December 18 retirement of Chief Judge A.J. Wachter. Interviews are open to the public. The times and location of the interviews will be announced later.

The 11th Judicial District is composed of Cherokee, Crawford, and Labette counties.

The nominees are:

• David S. Brake, Girard, sole practice

• Mary Jennifer Brunetti, Frontenac, sole practice

• Michael Gayoso Jr., Baxter Springs, county attorney for Crawford County

• Judge Samuel Marsh, Columbus, Cherokee County magistrate judge

• John G. Mazurek, Pittsburg, sole practice and city prosecutor for Pittsburg

• Frederick R. Smith, Farlington, sole practice, Pittsburg Municipal Court judge, and city attorney for Arma

• Steven A. Stockard, Pittsburg, sole practice and assistant county attorney for Bourbon and Crawford counties

The commission will select at least three nominees whose names will be submitted to the governor to fill the position according to statutory qualification and residency requirements. The governor has 60 days after receiving the names to decide whom to appoint.

Nominees for this district judge position 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 Crawford County at the time of taking office and while holding office.

Supreme Court Justice Lee A. Johnson is the nonvoting chair of the nominating commission. Members are Judge Oliver K. Lynch and Charles W. Sweeton, Baxter Springs; John W. Lehman, Girard; Richard G. Tucker and James K. Cook, Parsons; and Sara S. Beezley, Pittsburg.