7th Judicial District Nominating Commission sends candidate names to governor

TOPEKA—The 7th Judicial District Nominating Commission sent the names of three candidates for district court judge to Gov. Sam Brownback, who has 60 days to decide who will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of District Court Judge Michael J. Malone.

The three candidates are:

• Chelsi Kay Hayden, who currently is professor of lawyering skills at the University of Kansas School of Law. Her past experience includes working as chambers counsel to the Honorable Carlos Murguia, judge with the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas, and as a litigation associate with Shook, Hardy & Bacon, LLP. She graduated from the University of Kansas School of Law.

• James R. McCabria, who currently is senior assistant district attorney in the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office. His past experience includes working as assistant attorney general in the Kansas Attorney General’s Office, and as sole practitioner in the Law Office of James. R. McCabria. He graduated from Tulsa University School of Law.

• Bethany J. Roberts, who currently is managing attorney with Topeka Kansas Legal Services. She graduated from the University of Kansas School of Law.

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 7th Judicial District Nominating Commission consists of Justice Eric Rosen as the nonvoting chair; and Elizabeth S. Cateforis, Shon A. Qualseth, Wesley F. Smith, Ashley P.A. All, Michael C. McGrew, and Terry L. Smith, all of Lawrence.