TOPEKA—The 30th Judicial District Nominating Commission is seeking nominations for a district magistrate judge opening in Barber County that will become available when Judge Richard Raleigh vacates the position, effective July 6.
The 30th Judicial District is composed of Barber, Harper, Kingman, Pratt, and Sumner counties.
Justice Carol Beier, the Supreme Court departmental justice responsible for the 30th Judicial District, said persons can apply or be nominated by others for the position, but the person must submit a completed nomination form and release, including the nominee's signature.
A nominee for district magistrate judge must be:
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a graduate of a high school, a secondary school, or the equivalent;
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a resident of Barber County at the time of taking office and while holding office; and
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either a lawyer admitted to practice in Kansas, or able to pass a certification examination given by the Supreme Court within 18 months.
Nomination forms are available from the clerk of the district court in Barber, Harper, Kingman, Pratt, and Sumner counties; the clerk of the appellate courts at the Kansas Judicial Center; or the Kansas judicial branch website.
One original and 11 copies of the completed nomination form and supporting letters or other relevant documents must be submitted by 3 p.m. Friday, July 20, to:
Office of the Clerk of the Appellate Courts
Attn: Shelby Swafford
Kansas Judicial Center
301 SW 10th Ave., Room 107
Topeka KS 66612-1507
The nominating commission will convene to interview nominees at 9 a.m. Friday, August 17, in the Barber County Courthouse district courtroom, Medicine Lodge. Interviews are open to the public. The commission will then appoint a district magistrate judge. After serving one year in office, the new magistrate judge must stand for a retention vote in the next general election to remain in the position. If retained, the incumbent will then serve a four-year term.
The 30th Judicial District Nominating Commission consists of Beier as the nonvoting chair; Sidney Burkholder, Harper; Lance Dixon, Kingman; Robert Eisenhauer, Pratt; Elaine Esparza, Harper; Alan Goering, Medicine Lodge; Gregory Graffman, Kingman; Melvin Matlock, Belle Plaine; Jason Roberts, Pratt; Richard Swayden, Medicine Lodge; and Phillip Unruh, Harper.