Jul 22, 2025

Salina attorney and two City of Salina staff members nominated for 28th district judge

Posted Jul 22, 2025 2:33 PM
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kansas judicial center logo

Kansas Courts, Kansas Judicial Branch

The 28th Judicial District Nominating Commission sent the names of three nominees for district judge to Gov. Laura Kelly, who has 60 days to decide who will fill the vacancy.

The vacancy will be created when District Judge Rene Young retires August 1 from her position in Saline County.

The 28th Judicial District is composed of Ottawa and Saline counties.

The nominees are:

  1. ​Allie Burris, Salina, attorney
  2. Michelle Martin, Solomon, attorney, community relations supervisor, Community and Development Services Department, City of Salina
  3. W. Brad Sutton, Assaria, prosecutor, City of Salina

Eligibility requirements

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

  1. ​at least 30 years old;
  2. a lawyer admitted to practice in Kansas and engaged in the practice of law for at least five years, whether as a lawyer, judge, or full-time teacher at an accredited law school; and
  3. a resident of the judicial district at the time of taking office and while holding office.

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 28th Judicial District Nominating Commission consists of Justice K.J. Wall as the nonvoting chair.

Bennington: David Stanley

Minneapolis: Jay Macy

Salina: Lance Cochran, Robert German, Donald Merriman, Russel Prophet, and Christine Ritter

Solomon: Robert Martin