Five apply for judge vacancy in 25th judicial district

TOPEKA—Five people applied to the 25th Judicial District Nominating Commission seeking to fill a judge vacancy in the 25th judicial district, which includes Finney, Greeley, Hamilton, Kearny, Scott, and Wichita counties.

The vacancy was created by the retirement of Judge Philip Vieux.

The nominating commission will convene at 9 a.m. Tuesday, December 1, in the Finney County courthouse in Garden City to interview nominees. The meeting will be open to the public.

The five candidates are:

• District Magistrate Judge Ricklin R. Pierce

• District Magistrate Judge Christopher D. Sanders

• District Magistrate Judge Wade M. Dixon

• Lara Blake Bors

• Linda J. Lobmeyer

Kansas law requires that a judge be a resident of the district, be at least 30 years old, have actively practiced law for at least five years, and be admitted to practice law in Kansas.

Kansas law also requires the commission to submit at least two names, but not more than three, to the governor, who will choose one to appoint.

The 25th Judicial District Nominating Commission consists of Justice Dan Biles as the nonvoting chair; Ralph T. Goodnight of Lakin; Marvel J. Hopkins of Scott City; Brian F. Reuber of Tribune; Earl Wiles of Leoti; Robert H. Gale Jr. and Timothy C. Kohart of Syracuse; and Lucille R. Douglass, Gene H. Gaede, William I. Heydman, John M. Lindner, Gerald O. Schultz and Thomas M. Walker, all of Garden City.