TOPEKA — The 11th Judicial District Nominating Commission is seeking nominees to fill a district judge vacancy in Crawford County created by the December 18 retirement of Chief Judge A.J. Wachter.
The 11th Judicial District is composed of Cherokee, Crawford, and Labette counties.
Nominees 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.
If there are not three nominees who reside in the district who are deemed qualified by the nominating commission, the commission may consider nominees who reside outside the judicial district.
Nominees may apply or be nominated, but nominations must come on an application form and include the nominee’s signature. The application form is available from the clerk of the district court office in Cherokee, Crawford, and Labette counties; the clerk of the appellate court office in the Judicial Center in Topeka; or online at www.kscourts.org.
To be considered, an original and seven copies of the nominating form and supporting documents must be received by the commission chairman no later than noon Monday, December 4, 2017. Late submissions will be rejected. Forms will not be accepted by fax or online submission.
The chairman's mailing address is:
Honorable Lee A. Johnson
301 SW 10th Ave., Room 388
Topeka, KS 66612-1507
The 11th Judicial District Nominating Commission will meet to select from three to five nominees whose names will be submitted to the governor to fill the judicial position according to statutory qualification and residency requirements.
Commission meetings are open to the public.
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.