(KAIR)--The 1st Judicial District Nominating Commission will convene January 18 and 19 to interview nominees to fill a district judge vacancy created when Chief Judge David King retires January 1.

The 1st Judicial District is composed of Atchison and Leavenworth counties.

Justice Eric S. Rosen, the Supreme Court departmental justice responsible for the 1st Judicial District, said individuals can apply or be nominated, but nominations must come on a nomination form and include the nominee's signature.

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.

Nomination process

Nominations must be accompanied by a nomination form available from the clerk of the district court in Atchison and Leavenworth counties, clerk of the appellate courts in the Kansas Judicial Center in Topeka, or online at https://www.kscourts.org/judges/become-a-judge.html.

Nominations must be submitted by paper copy. The deadline to submit a nomination with a like number of supporting documents is noon Friday, January 6. No documents will be accepted digitally or by fax.

Paper submissions require one original and nine copies of the completed nomination form with a like number of supporting documents, and one executed release form, to be sent to:

Ronald Bates Jr., secretary

1st Judicial District Nominating Commission

529 Delaware St

Leavenworth, KS 66048

Public interviews

The nominating commission will convene at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, January 18, with interviews starting at 9 a.m. and continuing Thursday, January 19. Interviews will be in Courtroom 2 at the Leavenworth Justice Center, 601 S 3rd St. Interviews are open to the public.