Process
The Commission has adopted Rules of Procedure which give specific details of the
process. The basic process for merit selection of judges is as follows:
- Vacancy declared by Chief Justice
- Commission convened by Chair to determine meeting schedule
- Post card sent to attorneys in the district and press release issued about opening
- Background check of criminal and credit history completed on applicants
- Applicant's disciplinary history investigated with both the Kansas Commission on Judicial Qualifications
and the Office of the Kansas Disciplinary Administrator
- Applicants to be interviewed selected by Commission
- References, opposing counsel, judges and others contacted by non-lawyer & lawyer "teams"
- Information from "teams" reported to Commission prior to interviews
- Applicants interviewed in meeting open to the public
- For district court judge openings, the three best qualified persons are submitted to the Governor who makes the final selection
- For magistrate judge openings, the best qualified person is chosen
The Commission is governed by Kansas Statutes Governing Nonpartisan Selection of Judge of the District Court
Court KSA 20-2901 et seq.
The Commission also follows Supreme Court Rule 1101 with respect to confidentiality of records.