9th Judicial District Nominating Commission announces interview schedule for district judge post

TOPEKA—The 9th Judicial District Nominating Commission will meet at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, July 21, to interview nominees to fill a new district judge position.  
   
The district judge post in the 9th Judicial District was among several certified by Supreme Court Administrative Order 2022-JA-020 after the Kansas Legislature passed and the governor signed 2022 House Substitute for Substitute for Senate Bill No. 267 to fund them.   
 
The 9th Judicial District is composed of Harvey and McPherson counties.  
  
Interview schedule    
  
9:15 a.m.    
  
Gary Price Jr., McPherson, attorney and shareholder, Boyer & Price Law Office P.A.; and municipal court judge in Canton, Lindsborg, McPherson, and Moundridge  
  
9:45 a.m.    
  
Michael Llamas, Newton, self-employed with Llamas Law, LLC; city prosecutor in Hesston; and municipal court judge in Burrton, Florence, and Walton 
  
10:30 a.m.    
  
Matthew Treaster, Newton, assistant United States attorney, US Attorney’s Office  
  
11 a.m.     
  
Diane Sorensen, Newton, attorney and shareholder, Morris, Laing, Evans, Brock & Kennedy, Chtd.    
  
Public interviews    
  
Interviews are open to the public. They will take place at:  
   
Harvey County Courthouse  
Community Room  
800 Main St.  
Newton, KS  
  
ADA accommodation    
  
Any person with a disability who requires accommodation to access the nominating commission meeting should notify the judicial branch ADA coordinator as early as possible, preferably 10 working days before the meeting date:    
  
ADA Coordinator    
ADA@kscourts.org  
785-296-2256    
TTY at 711    
  
Eligibility requirements   
  
A nominee for district judge must be:   

• at least 30 years old; 
   

• a lawyer admitted to practice in Kansas and engaged in the practice of law for at least five years, whether as a lawyer, judge, or full-time teacher at an accredited law school; and 
   

• a resident of the 9th Judicial District at the time of taking office and while holding office.   

  
Nominees to governor   
  
The nominating commission will interview nominees and then select from three to five people for the vacancy whose names will be submitted to the governor to fill the position according to statutory qualification and residency requirements. The governor has 60 days after receiving the names to decide whom to appoint.   
  
Term of office   
  
After serving one year in office, the new judge must stand for a retention vote in the next general election to remain in the position. If retained, the incumbent will serve a four-year term.   
  
Nominating commission    
  
The 9th Judicial District Nominating Commission consists of Justice Melissa Standridge as the nonvoting chair; Glen Snell of Lindsborg, Thomas Adrian, George “Chip” Westfall, Jana McKinney, and John Robb, all of Newton; and David O’Dell, Brian Bina, and Ann Elliott, all of McPherson.