TOPEKA—The 28th Judicial District Nominating Commission will convene by telephone conference at 2 p.m. Wednesday to review the nomination form and set the schedule for accepting nominations for a district magistrate judge vacancy created by the Aug. 14 retirement of Judge Mary Thrower.
The meeting is open to the public, and anyone who wants to listen may request instructions by emailing [email protected].
The 28th Judicial District is composed of Ottawa and Saline counties.
Kansas law requires that a district magistrate judge be:
•a resident of Ottawa 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 given by the Supreme Court to become certified within 18 months.
The nominating commission will seek nominations, then convene to interview nominees. Interviews are open to the public. The commission will then appoint a district magistrate judge.
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.
The 28th Judicial District Nominating Commission consists of Supreme Court Justice Caleb Stegall as the nonvoting chair; David Stanley of Bennington; Jay Macy of Minneapolis; Lance Cochran, Robert German, Peter Johnston, Christine Ritter, and Darrell Wilson of Salina; and Robert Martin of Solomon.