11th Judicial District Nominating Commission seeks nominees for district judge vacancy

TOPEKA—The 11th Judicial District Nominating Commission is seeking nominations to fill a district judge vacancy. 

This vacancy was created when Judge Lori Bolton Fleming was appointed to the Kansas Court of Appeals. 

The 11th Judicial District is composed of Cherokee, Crawford, and Labette counties. 

Justice Eric S. Rosen, the Supreme Court departmental justice responsible for the 11th Judicial District, said individuals can apply or be nominated, but nominations must be on a nomination form and include the nominee's signature. 

Eligibility and appointment process

The nominating commission seeks nominations and then meets to conduct interviews. Interviews are open to the public. The 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. 

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. 

Nomination process

Nominations must be accompanied by a nomination form available from the clerk of the district court in Cherokee, Crawford, and Labette counties, the clerk of the appellate courts in the Kansas Judicial Center in Topeka, or online at kscourts.gov/judge/vacancies. 

The deadline to submit a nomination with supporting documents is noon Friday, June 6, 2025.

All nominations must be made on paper with one original and six copies of the completed nomination form and a like number of supporting documents delivered to:

Sara Beezley, secretary 
11th Judicial District Nominating Commission 
126 S Ozark 
PO Box 352 
Girard, KS 66743 

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 11th Judicial District Nominating Commission consists of Justice Eric S. Rosen as the nonvoting chair; Michael Gayoso Jr., Baxter Springs; John Lehman, Girard; Shane Adamson and Dennis Dodd, Parsons; Sara Beezley, Pittsburg; and Angela Rippel, Scammon.