The application window for residents interested in succeeding Lyon County Judge Merlin Wheeler is now open.
The Fifth Judicial District Nominating Commission held its first meeting Thursday. Commission Chair and Kansas Supreme Court Justice Melissa Standridge gained approval for all upcoming dates in the process, including a 30-day application window now through Aug. 1.
By Aug. 4, commission members will meet in teams to begin reference checks. In-person interviews will be at the Lyon County Courthouse starting at 8:30 am Aug. 11. Standridge says the commission needs to have three to five finalists submitted to Kansas Governor Laura Kelly for consideration by Aug. 15.
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.
Wheeler has been serving Lyon County as judge since 1990 and as chief judge since 1998. He’s officially retiring Sept. 3, but he has told KVOE News he plans to go on senior judge status at that time.
