7th Judicial District Nominating Commission announces interview schedule for Douglas County vacancy

TOPEKA—The 7th Judicial District Nominating Commission will convene November 21 to interviews six nominees to fill a district judge position in Douglas County created by the December 31 retirement of Chief Judge Peggy Carr Kittel.

The 7th Judicial District is composed of Douglas County.

The commission will meet at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, November 21, in the Division 4 Courtroom of the Judicial and Law Enforcement Center, 111 E 11th St., Lawrence. Interviews are open to the public.

The interview schedule:

• 9 a.m.—Emily Hartz, Lawrence, private practice, Sloan, Eisenbarth, Glassman, McEntire & Jarboe LLC, Lawrence

• 9:30 a.m.—Stacey Donovan, Lawrence, chief public defender, Shawnee County Public Defender's Office

• 10 a.m.—Blake Glover, Baldwin City, private practice, Law Office of Blake Glover LLC, Baldwin City

• 10:30 a.m.—Break

• 10:45 a.m.—Jonathon Noble, Lawrence, assistant attorney general, Kansas Attorney General's Office

• 11:15 a.m.—Carl Folsom III, Lawrence, assistant federal public defender, U.S. District Court of Kansas, Topeka

• 11:45 a.m.—Shon Qualseth, Lawrence, assistant attorney general, Kansas Attorney General's Office

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 7th Judicial District Nominating Commission consists of Supreme Court Justice Eric Rosen as the nonvoting chair and Elizabeth Cateforis, Stephanie Davis, Lisa Harris, Michael McGrew, Wesley Smith, and Daniel Watkins, all of Lawrence.