4th Judicial District Nominating Commission submits candidate names for district judge vacancy in Coffey County

TOPEKA — The 4th Judicial District Nominating Commission has sent the names of three candidates for district judge to Gov. Sam Brownback, who has 60 days to decide who will fill the vacancy created by the November 30 retirement of Coffey County Judge Phillip M. Fromme.

The three candidates are:

• Meghan K. Morgan, Burlington, assistant county attorney, Lyon County

• Darrel L. Smith, Emporia, assistant county attorney, Lyon County

• Judge Taylor J. Wine, Lyndon, district magistrate judge, Osage County

Candidates 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 Coffey County at the time of taking office and while holding office.

The 4th Judicial District is composed of Anderson, Coffey, Franklin, and Osage counties.

Supreme Court Justice Eric Rosen is the nonvoting chair of the nominating commission. Members are James R. Campbell and Jim H. Dale, both of Burlington; Craig E. Cole of Garnett; Janet C. Walsh of Lyndon; Thomas B. DeBaun of Osage City; Forrest A. Lowry and Randall E. Renoud of Ottawa; and Eugene E. Highberger of Westphalia.