(KAIR)--Three Atchison lawyers are among a total of eight applying to fill the role of 1st Judicial District Judge.

The Judicial District, which includes Atchison and Leavenworth counties, is currently vacant one judicial seat, due to the January 1 retirement of Chief Judge David King.

The three Atchison attorneys seeking to fill the vacancy, according to a release from the Kansas Courts, are Allen Ternent, John Fresh, and Andrew Werring.

They, and the other five applicants, will be reviewed Wednesday during a late morning telephone conference held by the 1st Judicial District Nominating Commission.

Following Wednesday- review of the eight applicants, the nominating commission will again convene on the morning of January 18 to interview nominees, with that process to continue the next day, also at the Leavenworth Justice Center.

The nominating commission will select three to five, whose names are submitted to the governor to fill the position according to statutory qualification and residency requirements.
The governor has 60 days after receiving the names to decide whom to appoint.

To be considered for district judge, a nominee must be at least 30-years of age, a lawyer admitted to practice in Kansas and engaged in the practice of law for at least five years, whether as a lawyer, judge, or full-time teacher at an accredited law school, and a resident of the judicial district at the time of taking office and while holding office.

After serving one year in office, a 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.