Four apply to fill judge vacancy in the 9th Judicial District

TOPEKA—The 9th Judicial District Nominating Commission reports that four people applied to fill a district judge vacancy that will be created when Judge Joe Dickinson retires September 18.

The 9th Judicial District is composed of Harvey and McPherson counties.

Who applied:

• David Justin Bravi, of Bravi Law, LLC, and deputy public defender with the Reno County Public Defender’s Office, McPherson

• Jason Robert Lane, county attorney, Harvey County Attorney’s Office, Newton

• Michael Xavier Llamas, self-employed with Llamas Law, LLC; city prosecutor in Hesston; and municipal court judge in the cities of Walton, Burrton, Florence, and Newton

• Matthew Levi Morris, Barton County Attorney, Great Bend

 
Public interviews

The nominating commission will convene at 8:30 a.m. Friday, September 10, to interview nominees. The meeting will be in the Community Courthouse in Newton. Interviews are open to the public.

The interview schedule will be announced once it’s finalized.

Anyone who attends the interviews must follow minimum standard health protocols set by the Supreme Court. These include answering questions at check-in about symptoms of or possible exposure to COVID-19, wearing a face mask while in the building, and maintaining 6 feet of physical distance from others.

ADA accommodation

Any person with a disability who requires accommodation to access the nominating commission meeting should notify the judicial branch ADA coordinator as early as possible, preferably 10 working days before the meeting date: 

ADA Coordinator
ADA@kscourts.org
785-296-2256
TTY at 711

Eligibility requirements

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 9th Judicial District at the time of taking office and while holding office.

 
Nominees to governor

The nominating commission will interview nominees and then select from three to five people whose names will be submitted to the governor to fill the position according to statutory qualification and residency requirements. The governor has 60 days after receiving the names to decide whom to appoint.

Term of 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.

Nominating commission

The 9th Judicial District Nominating Commission consists of Justice Melissa Taylor Standridge as the nonvoting chair; Thomas Adrian, George “Chip” Westfall, Jana McKinney, and John Robb, all of Newton; Michael Androes, Harris Terry, and Ann Elliott, all of McPherson; and Amie Bauer of Lindsborg.