Kay McFarland
TOPEKA, Kansas (Legal Newsline)--Eight people have applied for the Kansas state Supreme Court seat being vacated by longtime Chief Justice Kay McFarland.
Among those who have applied for the vacancy are two Court of Appeals judges, the state's securities commissioner and a former state lawmaker.
Friday was the deadline for applications to be submitted for seat being left open by McFarland, who is retiring in January.
Vying for a seat on the high court are Court of Appeals Judges Tom Malone and Steve Leben; Securities Commissioner Chris Biggs; former state Rep. Ward Loyd, Douglas County District Judge Robert Fairchild, Overland Park Municipal Judge Karen Arnold-Burger and Attorneys Dan Biles and Dennis Depew.
A judicial nominating commission will interview the candidates Nov. 17 and 18 and choose three finalists to submit to Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. The appointee will be subject to a retention vote in the first general election after serving a year in office.
When McFarland leaves the bench, Justice Robert Davis will become chief justice since he will be the most senior member of the court.
McFarland was appointed to the state Supreme Court in 1977. She became chief justice in 1995, upon the retirement of Justice Richard Holmes.
From Legal Newsline: Reach reporter Chris Rizo at chrisrizo@legalnewsline.com.