A Lawrence woman is among seven candidates who have applied for a newly created district judge position in the Second Judicial District.

Mary D. Prewitt, who worked as an assistant Douglas County District Attorney in the early 1980s, and the other candidates will be interviewed on Friday by a nominating panel. Two or three names will be submitted by the panel to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, who will make the final selection.

Prewitt, of rural Lawrence in Jefferson County, is currently Kansas state director for the Humane Society of the United States, a position she’s had since October 2006. She was a prosecutor from 1981 to 1983 in the office of Michael Malone, who then was district attorney. Malone now is a Douglas County District Court judge.

Prewitt also worked as assistant general counsel at Kansas University and as general counsel for the Kansas Board of Regents.

Jefferson County Attorney Michael C. Hayes also has applied. Hayes has worked as a private practice attorney in Oskaloosa and Lawrence. He is seeking a second term as county attorney.

Other candidates are Jeffrey R. Elder, private practice attorney in Wamego; Wabaunsee County Attorney Norbert C. Marek Jr.; District Magistrate Judge Steven M. Roth, Westmoreland; Kenneth R. Smith, Hoyt, a private practice attorney and rancher; and John D. Watts, assistant Pottawatomie County counselor and private practice attorney, Wamego.

The Second Judicial District includes Jackson, Jefferson, Pottawatomie and Wabaunsee counties. A new judge position was created by the 2008 Kansas Legislature and certified by Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Kay McFarland.