Topeka ? Three white men have been nominated to fill a vacancy on the Kansas Court of Appeals, despite Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ desire for a more diverse judiciary.

But Sebelius said Friday she did not blame the Supreme Court Nominating Commission, which forwarded the names to her.

Instead, she said, the state must work to get minorities into law school, have them practice as lawyers and then encourage them to seek judgeships.

Nominated to fill the vacancy created by Judge Robert Gernon’s December appointment to the Supreme Court were attorneys Richard D. Greene of Wichita and H. David Starkey of Colby and Riley County District Judge David Stutzman.

In a February letter, Sebelius told the state commission and local nominating commissions that she wanted to appoint more minority judges.

Richard Hite, chairman of the state commission, has noted that the nominating groups take applications. He suggested many minority attorneys are lured away by out-of-state law firms.

All of the 55 judges appointed by Gov. Bill Graves during his eight years in office were white.

Sebelius said she was hopeful that “can start to fill the pipeline and send out encouragement” to potential minority applicants for judgeships. “But it really has to start as early as law school,” she said.

All three nominees for the Court of Appeals seat are legal veterans.

Stutzman has been a judge for six years, following 15 years as an attorney in private practice.

Starkey has been an attorney for 27 years and served as Thomas County attorney in 1977-79.

Greene also has been practicing law since 1975 and specializes in civil litigation.