TOPEKA—The 25th Judicial District Nominating Commission is seeking nominations to fill a district magistrate judge vacancy in Kearny County created by Judge Richard Hodson’s December 16 retirement.
The 25th Judicial District is composed of Finney, Greeley, Hamilton, Kearny, Scott, and Wichita counties.
Justice Dan Biles, the Supreme Court departmental justice responsible for the 25th Judicial District, said individuals can apply or be nominated, but nominations must come on a nomination form and include the nominee's signature.
Eligibility requirements
A nominee for district magistrate judge must be:
-
a resident of Kearny County at the time of taking office and while holding office;
-
a graduate of a high school, a secondary school, or the equivalent; and
-
either a lawyer admitted to practice in Kansas or able to pass an examination to become certified within 18 months.
Nomination process
Nominations must be accompanied by a nomination form available from the clerks of the district courts in Finney, Greeley, Hamilton, Kearny, Scott, and Wichita counties; the clerk of the appellate courts at the Kansas Judicial Center in Topeka, or online at www.kscourts.org/judges/Become-a-Judge.
One original and 14 copies of the completed nomination form and supporting letters must be submitted by noon Tuesday, October 11, to:
William I. Heydman
Commission secretary
1519 E Fulton Terrace
P.O. Box 2010
Garden City, KS 67846
Public interviews
The nominating commission will convene to interview nominees at 9 a.m. Monday, November 7. Interviews will be at the Kearny County Courthouse and are open to the public.
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
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 25th Judicial District Nominating Commission consists of Justice Dan Biles as the nonvoting chair; Jennifer Cunningham, Lucille Douglass, Walker Frey, John Lindner, and Zachary Schultz, Garden City; William Heydman, Holcomb; Ralph Goodnight, Lakin; Rita Wiles, Leoti; Christine Cupp, Scott City; Robert Gale Jr. and Megan Larkin, Syracuse; and Joyce Huddleston, Tribune.