Interviews are underway to decide the next Douglas County District Court judge.

On Tuesday morning a nominating commission, chaired by Kansas Supreme Court Justice Eric Rosen, began interviews with the 11 applicants for the position. Rosen said he expects to publicly announce two to three finalists on Thursday.

Interviews, which are open to the public, are scheduled through 3 p.m. Tuesday and will finish up Wednesday morning in the Division 1 courtroom at the Douglas County Judicial and Law Enforcement Center, 111 E. 11th St.

The first few candidates gave introductory statements to the commission before taking questions. Commission members asked candidates to elaborate on their experience and qualifications, as well as questioning them about how they would respond to public criticism, how they see the position of judge fitting into the fabric of the community, how they handle conflict, why they want to be a judge and how they would handle the legal caseload and administrative duties of the position.

Rosen said the commission would make its finalists selections Wednesday afternoon, then notify the applicants and submit names to Gov. Sam Brownback.

Brownback will have 60 days to choose one for the job.

The new judge will replace Michael Malone, who retired from the position — which he held for 32 years — last month.

The last new judge appointed in Douglas County was Kay Huff, who took the bench in 2011.

The 11 judge applicants are Gregory Benefiel, an assistant county attorney in Montgomery County; Bradley Burke, chief attorney and deputy secretary of the Kansas Department of Labor and pro tem judge of the Lawrence Municipal Court; Darian Dernovish, legal counsel and records custodian for the Kansas Highway Patrol; Daniel Dunbar, prosecutor in the Shawnee County District Attorney’s office; Carl Folsom III, an assistant federal public defender in the Office of the Federal Public Defender; Chelsi Hayden, professor at the Kansas University School of Law; James McCabria, senior assistant district attorney in the Douglas County District Attorney’s office; Bethany Roberts, managing attorney with Topeka Kansas Legal Services; Sheila Schultz, private practice attorney and part-time municipal judge in Paola and Osawatomie; Jeffrey Southard, a senior trial attorney; and Kenneth Warner, a criminal defense attorney.

Nominating commission members are Elizabeth Cateforis, Shon Qualseth, Wesley Smith, Ashley All, Michael McGrew and Terry Smith.