Three candidates to be interviewed for judge vacancy in 8th Judicial District

TOPEKA—The 8th Judicial District Nominating Commission will interview three candidates who applied to fill a judge vacancy created by the January 12, 2015, retirement of District Court Judge David R. Platt.

The 8th judicial district includes Dickinson, Geary, Marion and Morris counties.

The nominating commission will convene at 9 a.m. Tuesday, December 23, in the Geary County Courthouse, Junction City, to interview candidates. The meeting will be open to the public.

The three candidates are:

• Keith Lane Collett, Chapman, who is a district magistrate judge in Dickinson County.

• Ryan Wayne Rosauer, Junction City, who is in private practice with Weary Davis, L.C., and is also senior defense counsel with the 22nd Legal Operations Detachment of the U.S. Army Reserve.

• Margaret Francesca White, Council Grove, who is a district magistrate judge in Morris County.

The commission must submit at least two names, but not more than three, to the governor, who will choose one to appoint.

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.

The 8th Judicial District Nominating Commission consists of Justice Marla Luckert as the nonvoting chair; and Kevin R. Fruechting and Edwin M. Wheeler Jr. of Marion; Darrel W. Bryant of Council Grove; Keith R. Henry of Junction City; Carolyn L. Gaston of Milford; Douglas G. Thompson of Chapman; Kevin O. Harris of Abilene; and Darrell L. Miller of Dwight.