25th Judicial District Nominating Commission seeks nominees for district magistrate judge vacancy

TOPEKA—The 25th Judicial District Nominating Commission is seeking nominations to fill a district magistrate judge vacancy in Kearny County created by Judge Richard Hodson’s December 16 retirement.  

The 25th Judicial District is composed of Finney, Greeley, Hamilton, Kearny, Scott, and Wichita counties.  

Justice Dan Biles, the Supreme Court departmental justice responsible for the 25th Judicial District, said individuals can apply or be nominated, but nominations must be made in writing on the 25th Judicial District's official nomination form and include the nominee's signature.  

District magistrate judge appointment process  
 
To be considered for district magistrate judge, a nominee must be:  

• a resident of Kearney County at the time of taking office and while holding office;  

• a graduate of a high school, a secondary school, or the equivalent; and  

• either a lawyer admitted to practice in Kansas or able to pass an examination to become certified within 18 months.  

The nominating commission selects whom to appoint to fill magistrate judge positions. 

Nomination process 

Nominations must be accompanied by a nomination form available from the clerk of the district court in Finney, Greeley, Hamilton, Kearny, Scott or Wichita counties, the clerk of the appellate courts at the Kansas Judicial Center in Topeka, or online at www.kscourts.org/judges/Become-a-Judge. 

One original and 14 copies of the completed nomination form and supporting letters must be submitted by noon Monday, November 14, to:  
 
William Heydman  
Commission secretary  
1519 E Fulton Terrace  
PO Box 2010  
Garden City KS 67846  

Public interviews  

The nominating commission will convene to interview nominees at 10 a.m. Friday, December 9, in the main courtroom of the Kearny County Courthouse in Lakin.  

Interviews are open to the public.  

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:  

ADA Coordinator  
ADA@kscourts.org
785-296-2256  
TTY at 711  

Term of office 

After serving one year in office, the new magistrate 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 25th Judicial District Nominating Commission consists of Justice Dan Biles as the nonvoting chair; Jennifer Cunningham, Lucille Douglass, Walker Frey, John Lindner, and Zachary Schultz, Garden City; William Heydman, Holcomb; Ralph Goodnight, Lakin; Rita Wiles, Leoti; Christine Cupp, Scott City; Robert Gale Jr. and Megan Larkin, Syracuse; and Joyce Huddleston, Tribune.