25th Judicial District Nominating Commission submits nominees for district judge vacancy in Finney County

TOPEKA—The 25th Judicial District Nominating Commission has sent the names of four nominees for district judge to Gov. Laura Kelly, who has 60 days to decide who will fill the vacancy created by the December 27 retirement of Judge Michael Quint.

The 25th Judicial District is composed of Finney, Greeley, Hamilton, Kearny, Scott, and Wichita counties.

The nominees are:

• Kristi M. Cott, assistant county attorney, Finney County Attorney's Office, Garden City;

• Richard L. Marquez, lawyer, Linder, Marquez & Koksal, Garden City;

• Christopher D. Sanders, district magistrate judge, Finney County, Garden City; and

• Brian R. Sherwood, assistant/deputy county attorney, Finney County Attorney's Office, Garden City.

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.

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 25th Judicial District Nominating Commission consists of Supreme Court Justice Dan Biles as the nonvoting chair; Lucille Douglas, William Heydman, John Lindner, Zachary Schultz, and Thomas Walker, Garden City; Gene Gaede, Holcomb; Ralph Goodnight, Lakin; Rita Wiles, Leoti; Christine Cupp, Scott City; Robert Gale Jr. and Timothy Kohart, Syracuse; and Deborah Kuttler, Tribune.