photo by: Mike Yoder

The Douglas County Judicial and Law Enforcement Center, 111 E. 11th St.

A committee tasked with nominating the next Douglas County District Court judge has narrowed its list to three, and the choice is now in the governor’s hands.

The new judge will replace Chief Judge Peggy Carr Kittel after her retirement Dec. 31. Gov. Laura Kelly has 60 days — roughly until the third week of January — to select from these three nominees, according to a news release from the state Office of Judicial Administration:

• Stacey Donovan, of Lawrence, chief public defender, Shawnee County Public Defender’s Office.

• Carl Folsom III, of Lawrence, assistant federal public defender, U.S. District Court of Kansas, Topeka.

• Shon Qualseth, of Lawrence, assistant attorney general, Kansas Attorney General’s Office.

The committee interviewed the three finalists and three other candidates Thursday morning.

Kelly will appoint one nominee to a one-year term, after which the new judge will face a retention vote, according to the news release. If retained, the incumbent will serve a four-year term.

Kittel was appointed a district judge in April 2008. She announced in early October that she plans to retire Dec. 31.