21st Judicial District Nominating Commission sends judge candidate names to governor

TOPEKA—The 21st 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 a vacancy created when Judge David L. Stutzman stepped down June 3 to accept a senior judge assignment.

The three candidates are:

• Grant Bannister of Manhattan, who is a law partner with Knopp & Bannister, P.A.

• Kendra Spaeth Lewison of Manhattan, who is assistant county attorney with the Riley County Attorney's Office.

• Phylemon Chuen-Man Yau of Manhattan, who is a public defender with the North Central Regional Office of the State Board of Indigents' Defense Services.

Kansas law requires that a judge reside in the district at the time of swearing-in and while holding office, be at least 30 years old, be admitted to practice law in Kansas, and have actively practiced law for at least five years.

The 21st judicial district includes Clay and Riley counties.

The 21st Judicial District Nominating Commission consists of Justice Marla J. Luckert as the nonvoting chair; William J. Bahr, James W. Morrison, Derrick L. Roberson, Richard H. Seaton Jr., and Johanna D. Lyle of Manhattan; Kyle C. Bauer and Steven C. McMahan of Clay Center; and Steven L. Hargrave of Randolph.