Jenifer Ashford named magistrate judge in Johnson County

TOPEKA—The 10th Judicial District Nominating Commission has selected Jenifer Ashford to fill a magistrate judge vacancy created by the May 2017 retirement of Judge Michael H. Farley.

The 10th judicial district is composed of Johnson County.

The commission conducted public interviews of applicants for the position Monday, May 8, in Johnson County.

Ashford, of Prairie Village, currently is senior prosecutor for the City of Shawnee and city prosecutor for the City of Lake Quivira. Her new position as magistrate judge will be effective on her swearing in.

Kansas law requires that a magistrate judge be a resident of the county at the time of swearing-in and while serving; be at least 30 years old; have graduated from a high school, a secondary school, or the equivalent; and either be a lawyer admitted to practice law in Kansas or pass an examination given by the Supreme Court and become certified within 18 months.

The 10th Judicial District Judicial Nominating Commission has 14 members. Seven are attorneys elected by Kansas licensed attorneys residing in the district, and seven are nonlawyers appointed by the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners.

The 10th Judicial District Nominating Commission consists of Justice Lee A. Johnson as the nonvoting chair; lawyer members Stephen M. Howe (commission secretary), Judge Kevin P. Moriarty, J. Brett Milbourn, John M. Parisi, Greg L. Musil, Thomas J. Bath Jr., and Rick G. Guinn; and nonlawyer members Annabeth Surbaugh; Gregory M. Doring; Vivien Jennings; Doug D. Brownlee; James A.C. Griffith; Joe W. Beveridge; and Samuel H. Turner Sr.