TOPEKA—The 25th Judicial District Nominating Commission will convene October 9 to interview three nominees to fill a district magistrate judge vacancy in Wichita County. The vacancy was created by the July 31 resignation of Judge Janna DeLissa.
The commission will convene at 9 a.m. Wednesday, October 9, in the Wichita County Courthouse, 206 S Fourth St., Leoti. Interviews are open to the public.
The 25th Judicial District is composed of Finney, Greeley, Hamilton, Kearny, Scott, and Wichita counties.
The interview times and nominees:
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9:15 a.m.—Victoria S. Meyer, lawyer, Kansas City, Kansas;
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9:45 a.m.—Randy Lee Keeton, nonlawyer, Leoti;
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10:15 a.m.—Korina Wedel, nonlawyer, Leoti.
The public cannot ask questions or make comments during the interviews, but comments may be made in advance to any commissioner by calling commission secretary William Heydman's law office at 620-275-7000.
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.
Kansas law requires that a district magistrate judge be:
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a resident of Wichita County at the time of taking office and while holding office;
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at least 30 years old;
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a graduate of a high school, a secondary school, or the equivalent; and
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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.
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.