photo by: Chris Conde/Journal-World

Deputy District Attorney Joshua Seiden is pictured on April 23, 2024, in Douglas County District Court.

The name of a former deputy district attorney who is facing a state ethics complaint has been removed from a list of nominees for the board that reviews police conduct complaints.

Attorney Joshua Seiden’s name had originally been one of seven nominees that the City Commission was considering as a member of the Community Police Review Board, but since Friday afternoon, the number of nominees has dwindled to just four, and Seiden’s name has been removed altogether.

The Journal-World had asked Mayor Bart Littlejohn about Seiden’s initial nomination, including who put Seiden’s name forward and whether the commission had any concerns with such an appointment. Littlejohn has yet to respond, but on Monday after another inquiry was sent to all five city commissioners, one responded, saying that she, Lisa Larsen, had concerns with the nomination.

“I did not nominate him,” Larsen said in an email. “I have strong concerns about the unethical and unprofessional actions that he has brought onto himself. I don’t think he deserves to be on this board.”

Commissioners Mike Dever, Brad Finkeldei and Amber Sellers did not respond to the Journal-World.

Seiden left District Attorney Suzanne Valdez’s office in June after dressing up as Justin Spiehs, a frequent and controversial public commenter, and mocking Spiehs in the lobby of Douglas County Judicial and Law Enforcement Center, where the county’s District Court conducts business and where the DA’s office is housed. Valdez’s office had previously prosecuted Spiehs.

photo by: Journal-World file photos

Joshua Seiden, top left, is pictured dressed in a costume of Justin Spiehs. District Attorney Suzanne Valdez, bottom left, is seen pointing at Seiden while in costume in an image taken from a video of the incident. Spiehs, right, is pictured in his “signature identifiable style” in a file photo.

Spiehs has since filed a complaint with the Kansas Office of the Disciplinary Administrator against Seiden and Valdez in connection with the incident, alleging multiple violations of the Kansas Rules of Professional Conduct for attorneys. Spiehs also claims in the complaint that Valdez has declined to prosecute people who have committed crimes against him. Spiehs has been prosecuted by the DA’s office for allegations of aggravated assault and disorderly conduct, though Spiehs has only been convicted of two counts of misdemeanor endangerment involving a man and his 9-year-old son.

Surveillance footage of the June incident shows Valdez and Seiden exiting the DA’s office. Seiden publicly mocks Spiehs, and at one point Valdez points and laughs. Valdez has denied that she was laughing at Seiden’s costume and said she was “surprised and shocked” at Seiden’s behavior and that his “misconduct was not ratified by me, and that is why he is no longer with my office.”

The Journal-World is still waiting for responses from the remaining commissioners to learn more about when and by whom Seiden was nominated. This story may be updated as more information becomes available.