County judge may be on list to become AG

Stephen Six was appointed to bench by Sebelius in 2005

? As speculation increases over whom Gov. Kathleen Sebelius will name as attorney general, one name that has been mentioned as a possible finalist is Douglas County District Judge Stephen Six.

State Rep. Paul Davis, D-Lawrence, who says he has no idea who eventually will be appointed, said Six would make an excellent attorney general. Six could not be reached for comment.

Davis said he has heard several names tossed around, including Six, Sebelius’ chief counsel Sally Howard and Kansas Securities Commissioner Chris Biggs.

Sebelius has refused to say whom she is considering to replace Attorney General Paul Morrison, who announced his resignation in the wake of a sex scandal.

“I’m not going to talk about candidates or names at this point,” Sebelius said Thursday. “I don’t think that’s fair to any of the candidates.”

Six was appointed to the bench by Sebelius in 2005. He is the son of retired Kansas Supreme Court Justice Fred Six, grew up in Lawrence and clerked for U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Deanell Tacha. Before being named a judge, Six was a plaintiff’s attorney in the firm of Shamberg, Johnson & Bergman in Kansas City, Mo.

Morrison has said he will leave office Jan. 31. He has acknowledged having an extramarital affair with Linda Carter, the former director of administration for the Johnson County District Attorney’s Office. Before winning election in 2006, Morrison was the Johnson County district attorney and Carter’s supervisor.

Carter has also accused Morrison of sexual harassment and professional misconduct. Morrison has denied those allegations.