TOPEKA—The 25th Judicial District Nominating Commission is seeking candidates to fill a judge vacancy created by the August retirement of Judge Philip Vieux.
The 25th judicial district is made up of Finney, Greeley, Hamilton, Kearny, Scott, and Wichita counties.
Justice Dan Biles, the Supreme Court departmental justice responsible for the 25th judicial district, said nominees can apply or be recommended, but recommendations must come on a nomination form and include the nominee's signature.
"The process for selecting judges is transparent with the intent to find the most qualified candidates in the district. If a community member knows someone ideally suited for the job, he or she should encourage that person to apply, or volunteer to recommend him or her," Biles said.
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.
Recommendations must be accompanied by a nomination form available from the clerk's office in the district courts in Finney (Garden City), Greeley (Tribune), Hamilton (Syracuse), Kearny (Lakin), Scott (Scott City), and Wichita (Leoti) counties. The form is also available on the Kansas Judicial Branch website.
Completed nomination forms and supporting letters must be delivered by noon (Central Standard Time) Friday, November 20, to:
William I. Heydman
Commission Secretary
1519 East Fulton Terrace
P.O. Box 2010
Garden City, KS 67846
The nominating commission will convene to interview nominees at 9 a.m. Tuesday, December 1, in the Finney County courthouse, 425 N 8th Street, Garden City. If necessary, interviews will continue December 2 at the same location. Interviews are open to the public.
Kansas law requires the commission to submit at least two names, but not more than three, to the governor, who will choose one to appoint.
Notice of this vacancy will be sent to active members of the Kansas bar by the chair of the commission. Nominees who currently reside outside the 25th judicial district should review K.S.A. 20-2909(b).
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.