10th Judicial District Nominating Commission seeks nominees to fill district magistrate judge vacancy

TOPEKA—The 10th Judicial District Nominating Commission is seeking nominations to fill a district magistrate judge vacancy in Johnson County created by Robert Scott’s June 8 retirement.
 
The 10th Judicial District is Johnson County.
 
Justice Evelyn Wilson, the Supreme Court departmental justice responsible for the 10th Judicial District, said nominees can apply or be nominated, but it must be on a nomination form and include the nominee's signature.
 
Eligibility requirements  
 
A nominee for district magistrate judge must be: 

• a resident of Johnson 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.   
   

The nominating commission selects whom to appoint to fill district magistrate judge positions.
 
Nomination process
 
Nominations must be accompanied by a nomination form available from the clerk of the Johnson County District Court, the clerk of the appellate courts at the Kansas Judicial Center in Topeka, or online at www.kscourts.org/judges/Become-a-Judge and the 10th Judicial District Nominating Commission website.

Only paper nominations will be accepted. No documents will be accepted digitally or by fax. 

Nominations must be on the current nomination form, which was approved by the 10th Judicial District Nominating Commission on May 22, 2023.

Completed nomination forms and supporting documents must be received by the commission secretary by NOON Wednesday, June 21. 

Submissions require one original and 15 copies of the completed nomination form, a like number of supporting documents, and one executed release form to be delivered to:
 
Kevin P. Moriarty, secretary
10th Judicial District Nominating Commission
7007 College Blvd., Ste. 430
Overland Park, KS 66211
 
Public interviews
 
The nominating commission will convene to interview nominees at 9 a.m. Wednesday, July 26, at the Johnson County Courthouse.
 
Interviews 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, a 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 10th Judicial District Nominating Commission consists of Justice Evelyn Wilson as the nonvoting chair; Thomas Bath, Leawood; Stephene Moore, and Annabeth Surbaugh, Lenexa; Laura McConwell, Mission; Doug Brownlee and District Judge Thomas Kelly Ryan, Olathe; Janine Estrada-Lopez, Rick Guinn, District Judge Timothy McCarthy, Kevin Moriarty, Greg Musil, and Chris Talarico, Overland Park; Haile Sims, Roeland Park; and Trenton Dansel, Westwood.