A better than 30-year career on the bench is ending soon for Lyon County Chief Judge Merlin Wheeler.
Lyon County District Court has confirmed Wheeler’s upcoming retirement this week.
Before being appointed as Lyon County judge in 1990, Wheeler served as Emporia’s city attorney from 1977-1980. He then joined the private firm Perkins and Hollembeak, Chartered, and later owned Merlin Wheeler Chartered from 1988-1990.
Wheeler has been serving as the district’s chief judge since 1998.
Residents interested in being a judge must be at least 30 years of age. They must also be a lawyer admitted to practice in Kansas and have a minimum five-year career engaged in practicing law, whether as a lawyer, judge or full-time teacher at an accredited law school. They must also live in the district for which they are applying.
Lyon County District Court has not yet announced who will become the chief judge. Lee Fowler and Jeff Larson are judges, while Doug Jones is the district’s magistrate judge.
