21st Judicial District Nominating Commission seeks nominees to fill district magistrate judge vacancy

TOPEKA—The 21st Judicial District Nominating Commission is seeking nominations to fill a district magistrate judge vacancy in Riley County created by Judge James Kepple’s November 28 retirement.

The 21st Judicial District is composed of Clay and Riley counties.

Justice Caleb Stegall, the Supreme Court departmental justice responsible for the 21st Judicial District, said individuals can apply or be nominated, but nominations must come on a nomination form and include the nominee's signature.

District magistrate judge appointment process

To be considered for district magistrate judge, a nominee must be:

• a resident of Riley 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.

Nomination process

Nominations must be accompanied by a nomination form available from the clerk of the district court in Clay and Riley counties, the clerk of the appellate courts at the Kansas Judicial Center in Topeka, or online at www.kscourts.org/judges.html.

Completed nomination forms may be submitted electronically or on paper, and they must be received by noon Tuesday, January 10. Electronic submissions go to jdnc.nominationform@kscourts.org. Paper submissions go to:

Justice Caleb Stegall, Chair

Kansas Judicial Center

301 SW 10th Ave

Topeka, KS 66612-1507

Public interviews

The nominating commission will convene to interview nominees at 9 a.m. Tuesday, February 7, at the Riley County Courthouse, 100 Courthouse Plaza, Manhattan. 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, 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.

Nominating commission

The 21st Judicial District Nominating Commission consists of Justice Caleb Stegall as the nonvoting chair; Kyle Bauer and Steven McMahan, Clay Center; William Bahr, Johanna Lyle, Jeremiah Platt, Derrick Roberson, and Kitra Schartz, Manhattan; and Steven Hargrave, Randolph.