Brownback has until July 12 to fill NE Kan. judgeship

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Gov. Sam Brownback has until July 12 deadline to pick one of three attorneys nominated to fill a district court judge's position in northeast Kansas.

There's a vacancy on the bench in Shawnee County because Judge Charles Andrews retired in March.

Eleven attorneys applied for the position, and a local nominating committee narrowed the field to three after interviews earlier this month. State law gives a governor 30 days to make the final selection.

The nominees include Jason Geier, a senior assistant Shawnee County district attorney, and Mary Mattivi, a judge pro tem for both the district court and the city of Topeka and city prosecutor in Maple Hill. The third nominee is Carl William Ossmann, chief litigation attorney for the state Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services.