TOPEKA—A nominating commission charged with naming candidates to fill two district judge vacancies in Johnson County has issued a request for assistance from the public.
The 15-member commission is responsible for submitting the names of two or three nominees to the Governor for the vacancies, which have been created by the appointment of Judge Steve Leben to the Court of Appeals and the addition of a district judge position by the 2007 Legislature.
"The nominating commission is especially interested in receiving recommendations of suggested nominees to fill the vacancy from the general public. All of the citizens of Johnson County are requested to consider this matter, and the names of suggested nominees submitted by the general public will be welcomed by the commission," according to Justice Lee A. Johnson, departmental justice for the 10th Judicial District.
Kansas statutes require that a judge be a resident of the district in which selected, be at least 30 years of age, have been in the active practice of law for at least five years, and have been admitted to the practice of law within the State of Kansas.
Suggested nominees are requested to complete questionnaires for the position. The forms are available from the Clerk of the Johnson County District Court. The completed forms for both positions should be returned to Hon. Karen Arnold-Burger, Commission Secretary, 12400 Foster, Overland Park, KS 66213, no later than noon, June 18, 2007.
The nominating commission will convene July 6th at 8:00 a.m. in Suite 300, Johnson County Administration Building, 111 S. Cherry St., Olathe, to interview the suggested nominees. The meeting will be open to the public; however, the commission has the authority to adjourn to executive session to discuss personal traits of the suggested nominees.
The law requires that the commission submit at least two names, but not more than three, for each position to the Governor who may appoint any of the nominees.
Notices of the vacancy are being mailed to every attorney in this judicial district by Justice Johnson, chair of the commission.
The 10th Judicial District Nominating Commission includes Justice Johnson as the nonvoting chair; Hon. Karen Arnold-Burger, Overland Park; Scott C. Gyllenborg, Leawood; Hon. Larry McClain, Overland Park; Victor A. Bergman, Kansas City; Terry Presta, Overland Park; Edna Baginsky, Olathe; Marcia K. Rinehart, Leawood; Michelle A. Kinzer, Olathe; Paul J. Morrison, Olathe; Mark D. Hinderks, Overland Park; Lewanna Bell-Lloyd, Olathe; Janis K. McMillen, Overland Park; Brant W. Tidwell, Prairie Village; and Richard E. Wells, Olathe.