Eleven Apply to Fill Judge Vacancy in 7th Judicial District

TOPEKA, Kan., Aug. 26 -- The Kansas Office of Judicial Administration issued the following news release:

Eleven people applied to fill a judge vacancy in the 7th Judicial District created by the retirement of District Court Judge Michael J. Malone.

The 7th Judicial District Nominating Commission will convene at 9 a.m. Tuesday, September 23, in the Douglas County Judicial and Law Enforcement Center, Lawrence, to interview applicants. Interviews are open to the public.

The 11 applicants are:

Gregory Thomas Benefiel, who currently is assistant county attorney in the Montgomery County Attorney's Office. His past experience includes working as assistant attorney general in the Kansas Attorney General's Office, assistant district attorney in both the Douglas County District Attorney's Office and Reno County District Attorney's Office, and assistant city prosecutor for the City of Overland Park. He graduated from the University of Kansas School of Law.

Bradley Robert Burke, who currently is chief attorney and deputy secretary of the Kansas Department of Labor and pro tem judge of the City of Lawrence Municipal Court. His past experience includes working as chief attorney for the Kansas Juvenile Justice Authority, assistant district attorney in the Johnson County District Attorney's Office, assistant attorney general in the Kansas Attorney General's Office, and assistant district attorney in the Douglas County District Attorney's Office. He graduated from the University of Kansas School of Law.

Darian P. Dernovish, who currently is legal counsel and records custodian for the Kansas Highway Patrol, special assistant U.S. attorney, Kansas special assistant attorney general, and back-up judge of the Silver Lake traffic court. His past experience includes working as assistant district attorney in the Shawnee County District Attorney's Office, as an of-counsel lawyer for McDowell, Rice, Smith and Gaar, and as an associate lawyer for Law Offices of Thad Nugent. He graduated from Washburn University School of Law.

Daniel Alan Dunbar, who currently is with the Shawnee County District Attorney's Office and is assigned first chair position in Division 14 of the Shawnee County District Court prosecuting all severity level five person felonies to off-grid person felonies. His past experience includes working in the Douglas County District Attorney's Office, and as deputy county attorney in the Franklin County Attorney's Office. He graduated from the University of Kansas School of Law.

Carl Adrian Folsom III, who currently is assistant federal public defender in the Office of the Federal Public Defender, Northern and Eastern Districts of Oklahoma. His past experience includes working as a partner in the law firm Bell Folsom, PA, and as public defender in the Kansas Appellate Defender Office. He graduated from the University of Kansas School of Law.

Chelsi Kay Hayden, who currently is professor of lawyering skills at the University of Kansas School of Law. Her past experience includes working as chambers counsel to the Honorable Carlos Murguia, judge with the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas, and as a litigation associate with Shook, Hardy & Bacon, LLP. She graduated from the University of Kansas School of Law.

James R. McCabria, who currently is senior assistant district attorney in the Douglas County District Attorney's Office. His past experience includes working as assistant attorney general in the Kansas Attorney General's Office, and as sole practitioner in the Law Office of James. R. McCabria. He graduated from Tulsa University School of Law.

Bethany J. Roberts, who currently is managing attorney with Topeka Kansas Legal Services. She graduated from the University of Kansas School of Law.

Sheila Marie Schultz, who currently is in private practice as a partner with Winkler, Domoney & Schultz in Paola, and is a part-time municipal judge for the City of Paola and the City of Osawatomie. She also is pro tem for the County of Miami's code court. Her past experience includes working as a hearing officer with the Miami County District Court. She graduated from Washburn University School of Law.

Jeffrey S. Southard, who currently is senior trial attorney with Abbott, Davidson & Southard. His past experience includes working in private practice, as director of litigation and general attorney for Westar, as assistant attorney general for the Kansas Attorney General's Office, and as research attorney for the Kansas Court of Appeals. He graduated from University of Kansas School of Law.

Kenneth Michael Warner, who currently is a criminal defense attorney in private practice as Mike Warner Law Firm, LLC. His past experience includes working as first assistant U.S. attorney for the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Kansas; assistant U.S. attorney for the U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Missouri; assistant district attorney for the Johnson County District Attorney's Office; general counsel for the Citizen's Utility Ratepayer Board; as staff attorney for the Kansas Sentencing Commission; as assistant district attorney for the Wyandotte County District Attorney's Office; as assistant county attorney for the Harvey County Attorney's Office; and as a claims attorney for the Iowa National Mutual Insurance Company. He graduated from Washburn University School of Law.

Kansas law requires that a judge be a resident of the district, be at least 30 years old, have actively practiced law for at least five years, and be admitted to practice law in Kansas.

Kansas law also requires the commission to submit at least two names, but not more than three, to the governor, who has 60 days to choose one to appoint.

The 7th Judicial District Nominating Commission consists of Justice Eric Rosen as the nonvoting chair; and Elizabeth S. Cateforis, Shon A. Qualseth, Wesley F. Smith, Ashley P.A. All, Michael C. McGrew, and Terry L. Smith, all of Lawrence.

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