30th Judicial District Nominating Commission to interview nominees for district magistrate vacancy

TOPEKA—The 30th Judicial District Nominating Commission will convene August 19 to interview three nominees to fill a district magistrate judge vacancy in Kingman County.

The vacancy was created by the retirement of District Magistrate Judge Roseanna Mathis.

The commission will convene at 8 a.m. Monday, August 19, in the Kingman County Courthouse, 130 N Spruce, Kingman. Interviews are open to the public.

The 30th Judicial District is composed of Barber, Harper, Kingman, Pratt, and Sumner counties.

The nominees to be interviewed are:

• Heather Kinsler, nonlawyer, Kingman;

• Larry Landwehr, nonlawyer, Murdock; and

• Ronald Sylvester, nonlawyer, Hutchinson.

Kansas law requires that a district magistrate judge:

• be a resident of Kingman County at the time of taking office and while holding office;

• be at least 30 years old;

• be a graduate of a high school, a secondary school, or the equivalent; and

• either be a lawyer admitted to practice in Kansas or able to pass an examination given by the Supreme Court to become certified within 18 months.

After interviews conclude, the commission will appoint the 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.

Supreme Court Justice Eric Rosen will serve as the nonvoting chair of the 30th Judicial District Nominating Commission in place of Justice Carol Beier. Members are Melvin Matlock, Belle Plaine; Sidney Burkholder and Elaine Esparza, Harper; Lance Dixon and Gregory Graffman, Kingman; Hannah Brass, Alan Goering, and Richard Swayden, Medicine Lodge; and Robert Eisenhauer and Jason Roberts, Pratt.