Topeka ? Seven district judges and 23 attorneys have applied for a seat on the Kansas Court of Appeals.

Five of the applicants are from Lawrence.

The Supreme Court Nominating Commission, which screens applications for appellate court openings, plans to nominate three finalists Nov. 4.

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius would have until Jan. 5 to make the appointment. It will be her fourth appointment to the 11-member court.

Sebelius created the latest vacancy by appointing Judge Carol Beier in July to the Kansas Supreme Court.

The district judges seeking the job are Bryce A. Abbott, of Sedgwick County; Joseph Bribiesca, also from Sedgwick County; Rebecca W. Crotty, Finney County; Steven Logan Hornbaker, Geary County; Patrick D. McAnany, Johnson County; Kim R. Schroeder, Stevens County; and David L. Stutzman, Riley County.

Attorneys seeking the job included Michael B. Buser, Overland Park; Douglas Paul Campbell, Ulysses; Nancy Landis Caplinger, Topeka; Martha J. Coffman, Lawrence; Tracy Applegate Cole, Hutchinson; Henry Reid Cox, Shawnee; Sharon Louise Dickgrafe, Wichita; Calvin Joseph Karlin, Lawrence; Rick Kittel, Lawrence; and Joe Allen Lang, Wichita.

Also applying were Robin Goodman Maxon, Topeka; Otis Warren Morrow, Arkansas City; Brandon L. Myers, Auburn; Steven J. Obermeier, Olathe; Jonathan Michael Paretsky, Lawrence; Debra Sue Peterson, Potwin; Sally Davis Pokorny, Independence; Deborah June Purce, Topeka; David H. Snapp, Dodge City; Jeffrey S. Southard, Lawrence; H. David Starkey, Colby; Brenda S. Watkins, Olathe; and Cheryl Lynn Whelan, Topeka.