TOPEKA ? A Kansas commission is interviewing 14 judges and attorneys who applied for a seat on the state Supreme Court and plans to forward three finalists’ names to Republican Gov. Sam Brownback.

The Supreme Court Nominating Commission’s interviews began Monday and continue Tuesday. The nine-member panel expects to release the finalists’ names by Tuesday evening.

The interviews are open to the public.

The applicants include Caleb Stegall, who was Brownback’s chief counsel until the governor appointed him last year to the state Court of Appeals. Three other Court of Appeals judges, three district court judges and seven lawyers also have applied.

The appointment will be Brownback’s first to the Supreme Court. The new judge will replace former Justice Nancy Moritz, who moved to the federal appeals court sitting in Denver.