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TOPEKA—The 10th Judicial District Nominating Commission has sent the names of three nominees for district judge to Gov. Laura Kelly, who has 60 days to decide who will fill the vacancy created by the June 28 retirement of Judge Kevin Moriarty.

The 10th Judicial District is composed of Johnson County.

The three nominees:

  • Paul W. Burmaster, Overland Park, private practice

  • Michael F. McCulloch, Olathe, Johnson County chief public defender

  • Karen L. Torline, Shawnee, City of Shawnee municipal court judge

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 Johnson County at the time of taking office and while holding office.

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.

The 10th Judicial District Nominating Commission consists of Supreme Court Justice Lee Johnson as the nonvoting chair; lawyer members Thomas Bath Jr. and John Parisi, Leawood; Laura McConwell, Mission; Stephen Tatum, Olathe; and Rick Guinn, Judge Kevin Moriarty, and Greg Musil, Overland Park; and nonlawyer members Vivien Jennings, Fairway; Samuel Turner Sr., Leawood; Joe Beveridge and Annabeth Surbaugh, Lenexa; Doug Brownlee and James Griffith, Olathe; and Gregory Doring, Prairie Village.

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