The 8th Judicial District Nominating Commission will convene at 9 a.m. October 29 in the Geary County Courthouse, 138 East Eighth, Junction City. They will interview nominees to fill a district judge vacancy in Geary County created by the January 1 retirement of Judge Maritza Segarra.

Interviews are open to the public.

The 8th Judicial District is composed of Dickinson, Geary County, Marion and Morris counties.

The nominees are:

–Christopher E. Biggs, Junction City, who is a former Geary County attorney and currently in private practice with Knopp and Biggs in Manhattan.

–Courtney D. Boehm, Hillsboro, county attorney in Marion County.

–Antonio R. Cruz III, Junction City, assistant Geary County attorney

–Cole A. Hawver, Manhattan, an attorney in the Junction City Public Defender Office.

–Andrea E. Purvis, Abilene, Dickinson County Attorney

–Britain D. Stites, Junction City, Junction City Attorney

–David E. Yoder, Newton, Harvey County Attorney

The commission will select from three to five nominees whose names will be submitted to the governor to fill the position according to statutory qualification and residency requirements. If there are not three nominees who reside in the judicial district who are deemed qualified by the commission, the commission may consider nominees who reside outside the district. The governor has 60 days after receiving the names to decide whom to appoint.

After serving one year in office the new judge must stand for a retention vote in the next general election to remain in the position. If retained, the incumbent will serve a four-year term.

The 8th Judicial District Nominating Commission consists of Justice Marla Luckert of the Kansas Supreme Court as the nonvoting chair, Darrel Bryant, Council Grove; Carolyn Gaston, Milford; Kevin Harris, Abilene, James Hefley, Hillsboro; Arvid Jacobson, Junction City; Darrell Miller, Dwight; Douglas Thompson, Abilene; and secretary Edwin Wheeler Jr., Marion.