3rd Judicial District Nominating Commission sends names of three nominees for district judge to governor

TOPEKA—The 3rd Judicial District Nominating Commission has sent the names of three nominees for district judge to Gov. Laura Kelly, who has 60 days to decide who will fill the position.
 
The vacancy was created by Judge Rachel Pickering’s swearing-in to the Court of Appeals.
 
The 3rd Judicial District is Shawnee County.
 
The nominees are:

• Jay Befort, Topeka, general counsel, Kansas Department of Revenue

• Ashley Long, Topeka, public defender, 3rd Judicial District Public Defender Office

• Todd Thornburg, Topeka, deputy chief counsel, Kansas Department of Labor

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 judicial district at the time of taking office and while holding office.

Term of office
 
After serving one year in office, a 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 3rd Judicial District Nominating Commission consists of Justice Caleb Stegall as the nonvoting chair; Toby McCullough, Rossville; and Whitney Casement, Thomas Lemon, Randall Phillips, Rebecca Sanders, and Eric Stafford, Topeka.