Fifteen apply for 3rd Judicial District judgeship

TOPEKA—Fifteen area attorneys have applied for a Shawnee County District Court judge vacancy that will be created by the September 1 retirement of Judge Matthew Dowd.

The deadline for applying for the judgeship was Thursday.  The Shawnee County District Court Nominating Commission will interview applicants next Tuesday, July 15, and subsequently submit the names of at least two, but not more than three, to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, who will make the appointment.

Three of the 15 applicants previously were nominated to fill a vacancy on the Shawnee County District Court that was created by the July 4 retirement of Judge Thomas R. Conklin.  Justice Marla J. Luckert, departmental justice for Shawnee County, said the Nominating Commission will conduct the interviews for Judge Dowd’s successor Tuesday, but withhold making nominations until Gov. Sebelius has made her appointment of Judge Conklin’s successor.  The governor has until July 24th to make that appointment.

Following is a list of those applying for Judge Dowd’s position:

• James E. “Jeb” Benfer, private practice

• Kelley M. Connor-Wilson, private practice

• Jan Haley Maxwell, SRS attorney

• Jared S. Maag, deputy solicitor general, State of Kansas

• Jill A. Michaux, private practice

• T. Richard Harmon, private practice

• Brian M. Vazquez, Kansas Health Policy Authority, deputy director

• Kimberly L. Knoll, Shawnee County assistant district attorney

• Larry G. Karns, private practice

• Wm. Scott Hesse, assistant attorney general

• Carl William Ossmann, SRS deputy general counsel

• Ruth E. Graham, private practice*

• Cheryl Rios Kingfisher, associate Topeka Municipal Court presiding judge*

• David B. Debenham, Shawnee County deputy district attorney*

• Pantaleon Florez Jr., private practice

*Nominated to succeed Judge Conklin.