21st Judicial District Nominating Commission seeks nominees for district magistrate judge vacancy

TOPEKA—The 21st Judicial District Nominating Commission is seeking nominations to fill a district magistrate judge vacancy in Clay County created by the October 15 death of District Magistrate Judge William “Bill” Malcom.
 
The 21st Judicial District is composed of Clay and Riley counties.
 
Justice Stegall, the Supreme Court departmental justice responsible for the 21st Judicial District, said nominees can apply or be nominated, but it must be on a nomination form and include the nominee's signature.
 
Eligibility requirements
 
Kansas law requires that a district magistrate judge be:

• a resident of Clay 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 given by the Supreme Court to become certified within 18 months.

Nomination process
 
Nominations must be accompanied by a nomination form available from the clerk of the district court in Clay County or Riley County or the clerk of the appellate courts in the Kansas Judicial Center in Topeka. It is also available online at www.kscourts.org/judge/vacancies.
 
Nominations are due by noon Wednesday, December 27, 2023. They can be submitted on paper or by electronic mail.
 
Nominations by electronic mail go to jdnc.nominationform@kscourts.org.
 
Paper nominations submitted require one original and nine copies delivered to:
 
Justice Caleb Stegall
Kansas Judicial Center
301 SW 10th Ave.
Topeka, KS 66612 
 
Interviews and appointment
 
The nominating commission will convene to interview nominees at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, January 18, 2024. Interviews are open to the public and will take place at:
 
Clay County Courthouse
712 Fifth St.
Clay Center
 
The commission selects who is appointed to fill the district magistrate judge vacancy.
 
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 21st Judicial District Nominating Commission consists of Justice Caleb Stegall as the nonvoting chair; Kyle Bauer and Steven McMahan of Clay Center; William Bahr, Johanna Lyle, Jeremiah Platt, Derrick Roberson, and Kitra Schartz of Manhattan; and Steven Hargrave of Randolph.