Douglas County District Judge Jack Murphy will retire Jan. 12, the state office of judicial administration announced Wednesday morning.

Murphy did not file for retention in this year’s election and instead decided to step down from the bench, the office said. District court judges must file for retention every four years to continue their judgeship.

“I feel it’s time for somebody else to take over the job,” Murphy said. “I’ve had the pleasure of doing it for (nearly) 15 years, and I think it’s time for some new blood.”

Murphy, 64, of Baldwin City, said he enjoyed most every minute of his time on the bench, but was ready to move on.

“Just ready to retire,” he said.

Murphy said he plans to tend to his farm and travel after retirement, but he has agreed to serve in courtrooms around the state where there are conflicts or when judges can’t handle different cases.

“That may keep me fairly busy,” Murphy said.

Murphy was appointed by then-Gov. Joan Finney in June 1994. He succeeded Judge James W. Paddock. Previously, Murphy was an attorney in Baldwin City.

A seven-member nominating commission is asking for the public’s help in identifying candidates to fill Murphy’s 7th Judicial District seat, said Ron Keefover, spokesman for the state’s judicial information office. The commission will select two or three nominees and submit them to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, who will appoint one of them as the replacement.

“All of the citizens of (Douglas County) are requested to consider this matter, and the names of suggested nominees submitted by the general public will be welcomed by the commission,” Supreme Court Justice Eric S. Rosen, departmental chair for the 7th Judicial District, said in a news release issued Wednesday morning.

Candidates are required to be a resident of Douglas County, at least 30 years of age, must have been in active law practice for at least five years, and must be able to practice law in Kansas, Keefover said.

Nominees should complete a questionnaire and return it by noon Oct. 23 to Justice Eric Rosen, Kansas Supreme Court, 301 S.W. 10th Ave., Topeka, KS 66612. The forms are available from the Douglas County District Court clerk, or at at their Web site. Every attorney in the county has been mailed a notice of the vacant position.

The commission will meet at 9 a.m. Nov. 12 in the Douglas County Judicial and Law Enforcement Center to interview suggested nominees. That meeting will be open to the public.

The nominating commission includes Edward Collister Jr., John Nitcher, Janine Cox, Robert Maynard, Charles Epp and Kurt Von Achen. Rosen is the nonvoting chairman of the commission.