Nominees to be interviewed for district judge vacancy in Geary County

TOPEKA—The 8th Judicial District Nominating Commission will convene at 9 a.m. October 29 in the Geary County Courthouse, 138 E Eighth, Junction City, to interview nominees to fill a district judge vacancy in Geary County created by the January 1 retirement of Judge Maritza Segarra.

Interviews are open to the public. The 8th Judicial District is composed of Dickinson, Geary, Marion, and Morris counties.

The nominees and times of their interviews are:

• 9:15 a.m. David E. Yoder, Newton, county attorney for Harvey County.

• 9:45 a.m. Courtney D. Boehm, Hillsboro, county attorney for Marion County.

• 10:15 a.m. Antonio R. Cruz III, Junction City, assistant county attorney for Geary County.

• 10:45 a.m. Break 11 a.m. Cole A. Hawver, Manhattan, chief public defender in the Junction City Public Defender Office.

• 11:30 a.m. Andrea E. Purvis, Abilene, county attorney for Dickinson County.

• Noon Christopher E. Biggs, Junction City, an attorney with Knopp and Biggs, Manhattan.

• 12:30 p.m. Britain D. Stites, Junction City, city attorney for Junction City.

The commission will select from three to five nominees whose names will be submitted to the governor to fill the position according to statutory qualification and residency requirements. If there are not three nominees who reside in the judicial district who are deemed qualified by the commission, the commission may consider nominees who reside outside the district.

The governor has 60 days after receiving the names to decide whom to appoint. After serving one year in office, the new judge must stand for a retention vote in the next general election to remain in the position. If retained, the incumbent will serve a four-year term.

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.

The 8th Judicial District Nominating Commission consists of Justice Marla Luckert of the Kansas Supreme Court as the nonvoting chair; Darrel Bryant, Council Grove; Carolyn Gaston, Milford; Kevin Harris and Douglas Thompson, Abilene; James Hefley, Hillsboro; Arvid Jacobson, Junction City; Darrell Miller, Dwight; and secretary Edwin Wheeler Jr., Marion.