Five apply for judge vacancy in 21st judicial district

TOPEKA— Five candidates applied to the 21st Judicial District Nominating Commission seeking to fill a judge vacancy in the 21st judicial district, which includes Clay and Riley counties.

The vacancy was created when District Court Judge David L. Stutzman stepped down June 3 to accept a senior judge assignment.

The nominating commission will convene at 8:30 a.m. Monday, July 18, 2016, in the Riley County Courthouse, 100 Courthouse Plaza, Manhattan, to interview nominees. Interviews are open to the public.

The five candidates listed below are all attorneys in Manhattan:

• Grant Bannister

• Sheila Hochhauser

• Kendra Lewison

• Dan McCulley

• Phil Yau

Kansas law requires that a judge be a resident of the 21st judicial district at the time of taking the oath and maintain that residency while holding office, have actively practiced law as a judge, attorney or full-time teacher at an accredited law school for at least five years, and be admitted to practice law in Kansas.

Kansas law also requires the commission to submit three to five names to the governor, who will choose one to appoint.

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.