Douglas County District Court Judge Robert Fairchild will sit with the Kansas Supreme Court to consider an appeal in a capital murder case, it was announced Friday.

The state Supreme Court appointed Fairchild to join it in place of Chief Justice Robert Davis, who died Aug. 4.

Fairchild will hear oral arguments Nov. 1 in the appeal of Phillip Cheatham Jr. and then participate in the court’s deliberations.

Cheatham, who was sentenced to death for the slayings of two Topeka women, alleges he received ineffective counsel during the guilt and penalty phases of his trial.

Fairchild is in his 15th year as a judge. He is the chief judge of the 7th Judicial District.