3rd Judicial District Nominating Commission to meet February 9

TOPEKA—The 3rd Judicial District Nominating Commission will meet by telephone conference at 11 a.m. Thursday, February 9, to set the schedule for filling a district judge vacancy created by the appointment of Judge Rachel Pickering to the Kansas Court of Appeals.

The vacancy becomes effective upon Judge Pickering's swearing in as judge of the Court of Appeals.  

The 3rd Judicial District is Shawnee County.  

Public access 
 
The meeting is open to the public. To listen: 

• call 845-361-8917

• enter guest passcode 3872788#

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 
 
District judge appointment process

To be considered for district judge, a nominee 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.

The nominating commission selects three to five people whose names are 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, 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.