30th Judicial District Nominating Commission to interview nominees for district magistrate vacancy

TOPEKA — The 30th Judicial District Nominating Commission will convene January 25 to interview seven nominees to fill a district magistrate judge vacancy in Harper County.

The vacancy was created by the retirement of Judge James Richard Biles. 

The commission will convene at 8 a.m. Friday, January 25, in the Harper County Courthouse district courtroom, 201 N Jennings, Anthony. Interviews are open to the public.

The 30th Judicial District is composed of Barber, Harper, Kingman, Pratt, and Sumner counties.

The nominees to be interviewed are: 

• Elizabeth Deiter, nonattorney, Sabetha.

• Rachel Denton, nonattorney, Harper.

• Jo Ann Nelson, nonattorney, Anthony.

• Charles David Williams III, attorney, Anthony.

• Robert Lattin, attorney, Independence.

• Heather Kinsler, nonattorney, Kingman.

• Scott McPherson, attorney, Sterling.

A nominee for district magistrate judge must be:

• a graduate of a high school, a secondary school, or the equivalent.

• a resident of Harper County at the time of taking office and while holding office.

• either a lawyer admitted to practice in Kansas, or able to pass an examination given by the Supreme Court to become certified within 18 months.

After interviews conclude, the commission will appoint the 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 serve a four-year term.

Supreme Court Justice Carol Beier is the nonvoting chair of the 30th Judicial District Nominating Commission. Members are Sidney Burkholder, Phillip Unruh, and Elaine Esparza, Harper; Lance Dixon and Gregory Graffman, Kingman; Robert Eisenhauer and Jason Roberts, Pratt; Alan Goering and Richard Swayden, Medicine Lodge; and Melvin Matlock, Belle Plaine.