Fifteen Candidates Vie for Kansas Supreme Court Seat as Nominating Process Begins

by Derek White

TOPEKA, Kan.—May 12, 2025

The Kansas judicial system is preparing for a significant transition as 15 legal professionals—seven judges and eight lawyers—have applied to fill an upcoming vacancy on the Kansas Supreme Court. The position will open following the resignation of Justice Evelyn Wilson, effective July 4.

Who’s in the Running?

The list of applicants includes a diverse range of judicial and legal experience, representing communities across the state:

• Meryl Brianne Carver-Allmond, lawyer, Lawrence

• Carl Adrian Folsom III, district judge, Lawrence

• Amy Jane Hanley, district judge, Lawrence

• Randall Lee Hodgkinson, lawyer, Topeka

• Krishnan Christopher Jayaram, district judge, Lenexa

• Laura Ellen Johnson-McNish, district judge, Troy/Marysville

• Brant Mitchell Laue, lawyer, Topeka

• Kathleen M. Lynch, district judge, Kansas City

• Brian Lee Mizer, lawyer, Lawrence

• Cheryl Ann Rios, district judge, Topeka

• Anthony F. Rupp, lawyer, Olathe

• Krystal Lynn Vokins, lawyer, Lawrence

• Larkin Evans Walsh, lawyer, Leawood

• Kristen Diane Wheeler, lawyer, Wichita

• Robert James Wonnell, district judge, Olathe

  
  

Nominating Commission to Meet May 13

The Supreme Court Nominating Commission will convene by videoconference on Tuesday, May 13 at 8 a.m. to finalize procedural matters, including scheduling public interviews. The session will be livestreamed on the Kansas Judicial Branch’s YouTube channel, reinforcing transparency in the judicial selection process.

The public interviews of applicants—required by the Kansas Open Meetings Act—will be scheduled shortly after this initial meeting. A full interview timetable and brief bios for each candidate will be published on kscourts.gov.

What Happens Next?

Following public interviews, the nine-member commission will recommend three finalists to the governor, who will make the final appointment. This process is part of Kansas' merit-based judicial selection system, a practice enshrined in the state constitution since 1958. The system seeks to balance public accountability with legal expertise and judicial temperament.

Eligibility and Criteria

To qualify, candidates must be at least 30 years old and have at least 10 years of legal experience as a lawyer, judge, or law school educator in Kansas. The commission evaluates nominees on:

• Legal and judicial experience

• Character and ethics

• Educational background

• Impartiality and temperament

• Community service

• Peer respect

  
  

About the Commission

The Supreme Court Nominating Commission is made up of nine members—five attorneys and four non-attorneys—appointed or elected from each congressional district. It operates independently under the Kansas Constitution.

Current commission members include:

• Gloria G. Farha Flentje, chair, Wichita

• Robert J. Frederick, Lakin

• Diane Oakes, Lawrence

• Jennifer M. Cocking, Emporia

• Frances Gorman Graves, Bartlett

• Katie A. McClaflin, Overland Park

• Carol S. Marinovich, Kansas City

• Thomas J. Lasater, Wichita

• Ebony S. Clemons, Wichita

  
  

As the process begins, Kansans can follow the selection through livestreams and public documents, reinforcing the state’s commitment to an open and merit-based judiciary.