photo by: Chris Conde/Journal-World

The Kansas Judicial Center, 301 SW 10th Ave. in Topeka, is pictured on Dec. 18, 2023.

Three of the seven people seeking to fill a vacant seat on the Kansas Supreme Court are from Lawrence, and you can watch their live job interviews on Thursday.

The Lawrence candidates will have interviews in Topeka as follows: Douglas County District Court Judge Carl Folsom III at 10 a.m.; Douglas County District Court Judge Amy Hanley at 11:15 a.m.; and Lawrence attorney Meryl Carver-Allmond at 1:30 p.m.

The interviews are open to the public and will also be livestreamed on the Kansas judicial branch YouTube channel.

The same three Lawrence residents also applied to fill the vacancy created when the late Justice Evelyn Wilson stepped down last year. The current vacancy was created by Justice Marla Luckert’s retirement on March 28. Hanley was one of three finalists for Wilson’s seat, which ultimately went to Leawood attorney Larkin Evans Walsh, who was appointed to the seven-member bench by Gov. Laura Kelly. District Judge Krishnan Christopher Jayaram, of Lenexa, was the other finalist last year, and he is seeking a seat again this year (interviewing at 2 p.m.).

photo by: Contributed

Judge Amy J. Hanley

photo by: Chris Conde/Journal-World

Judge Carl Folsom III is pictured at his judicial swearing-in ceremony on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lawrence.

photo by: Journal-World File

Lawrence attorney Meryl Carver-Allmond is pictured in April 2026 at a Lawrence City Commission meeting.

The three others applying on Thursday are attorney Molly McMurray Gordon, of Wichita (interviewing at 10:45 a.m.); attorney Kristen Diane Wheeler, of Wichita (interviewing at 1 p.m.); and District Judge Robert James Wonnell, of Olathe (interviewing at 9 a.m.).

Biographical summaries for all seven candidates can be viewed online on the Supreme Court’s website.

After interviewing applicants, the nominating commission will decide which three to recommend to the governor, who will appoint one to fill the vacancy.

To be considered, a nominee must be at least 30 years old and be a lawyer admitted to practice in Kansas and engaged in the practice of law for at least 10 years, whether as a lawyer, judge, or full-time teacher at an accredited law school.

When commission members review nominees, they look at a person’s legal and judicial experience, educational background, character and ethics, temperament, service to the community, impartiality, and the respect of their colleagues.