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District court judgeship opening presented; judges explain merit selection process
Summary
Chief Judge Joan Loudon and court administrator Steve Crossett presented the district court—s 2026 budget request at the county budget session and explained how district judges are selected via a local nominating commission and gubernatorial appointment process.
Chief Judge Joan Loudon, chief judge of the First Judicial District, and Steve Crossett, court administrator, presented the district court—s proposed 2026 budget and answered commissioners— questions on judicial selection and caseloads.
The presenters said the district—s 2026 request seeks the same funding level the court has previously received. Loudon explained that Kansas has 31 judicial districts and that selection methods vary: about half of districts use election, and roughly half use a merit-selection process.
In the First Judicial District (Leavenworth and Atchison counties), Loudon described a local nominating commission that includes four attorney members (voted on by local attorneys) and four non-attorney members (two appointed by the Leavenworth County Commission and two by the Atchison County Commission). The commission will interview applicants for a recently posted judgeship; applications are due in July with interviews in late August. By statute the nominating body forwards three to five candidates to the governor, who has 60 days to make the appointment. Loudon said the Kansas Bureau of Investigation conducts background checks and other vetting during the governor—s review period.
Why it matters: The district court—s budget and the filling of judicial vacancies affect court operations, docket capacity and scheduling for civil, juvenile and criminal matters. Commissioners were briefed on the process so that the board and the public understand the local role in nominating non-attorney commission members and the timeline for the governor—s appointment.
The court—s budget presentation drew no formal vote at the session; Loudon said she would take questions and that the court will proceed with the posted vacancy timetable.
