6th Judicial District Nominating Commission to set schedule for district magistrate judge vacancy

TOPEKA—The 6th Judicial District Nominating Commission will set the schedule to fill a district magistrate vacancy created by Judge Valorie Leblanc’s June 9 resignation during their telephone conference at 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 9.  

The commission will also review nominations for a district judge vacancy created by Judge Steven Montgomery’s July 3 retirement.  
   
The 6th Judicial District is composed of Bourbon, Linn, and Miami counties. 

Public access  
  
The meeting is open to the public. To listen:  

• call 1-845-361-8917 

• enter guest passcode 3872788#    

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:  
  
ADA Coordinator  
ADA@kscourts.org  
785-296-2256  
TTY at 711  
  
Eligibility requirements  
  
A nominee for district magistrate judge must be:  

• a resident of Bourbon 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 magistrate judge positions. 

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 6th Judicial District Nominating Commission consists of Justice Evelyn Wilson as the nonvoting chair; Mark McCoy and Zackery Reynolds, Fort Scott; Patton Apple and Ronald Wood, Louisburg; Todd Schneider, Mound City; and Mary Stephenson, Paola.