(Updated to correct that Hodgkinson was recommended to the governor, not Keller)
Salina federal law clerk Angela Coble was among the leaders in all three rounds of balloting when a screening committee recently recommended her and two others for a seat on the Court of Appeals.
Coble either led or tied for the lead in all three rounds of voting conducted by a commission created by Gov. Laura Kelly to review appeals court appointments.
Coble amassed more votes throughout three rounds of balloting – 24 – than any of the other candidates seeking the appeals court seat.
The committee recommended Coble as well as appellate lawyer Randall Hodgkinson and Shawnee County District Judge Rachel Pickering to replace retiring Judge Michael Buser. Kelly will choose from among the three for the appeals court seat.
The finalists were selected from among eight candidates who applied for the job. Here are the bios for all the candidates.
Coble was tied at eight votes each with Keller and Hodgkinson after the first round of voting.
They were trailed by Pickering with seven votes, federal law clerk David Rempel with six votes, Board of Tax Appeals member Kristen Wheeler with four votes and Assistant Solicitor General Natalie Chalmers with one vote.
Topeka lawyer John Carpinelli did not received any votes. Wheeler, Chalmers and Carpinelli did not advance to the second round.
In Round 2, the field was narrowed to five candidates, with Coble and Hodgkinson leading the pack with eight votes, followed by Keller with seven votes.
Pickering received six votes and Rempel got four. Rempel was eliminated.
In the third round, Coble led the field with eight votes, followed by Hodgkinson with seven, Pickering with six and Keller with five votes.
Coble, Hodgkinson and Pickering’s names were sent to the governor. Keller was eliminated after falling just one vote short of tying Pickering for the last position.
Kelly must choose a nominee from the three candidates recommended by the screening committee.
It will be up to the Senate to confirm Kelly’s appointment.
The nominating panel is made up of five members of the legal profession and four community members.
The composition mirrors the committee that reviews candidates for the Kansas Supreme Court.
Kelly established the screening process even though she has the authority to make the appointment unilaterally without public input.
Here is how each member of the nominating commission voted and along with the actual ballots from the first, second and third rounds of balloting:
Linda Parks
Wichita
Partner at Hite, Fanning & Honeyman
Round 1 (Vote for up to five)
Randall Hodgkinson
Russell Keller
Rachel Pickering
David Rempel
Kristen Wheeler
Round 2 (Vote for up to four)
Randall Hodgkinson
Russell Keller
Rachel Pickering
Round 3 (Vote for up to three)
Randall Hodgkinson
Russell Keller
Rachel Pickering
Monique Garcia
Wichita
Community relations director
Kansas Health Foundation
Round 1 (Vote for up to five)
Angela Coble
Randall Hodgkinson
Russell Keller
Rachel Pickering
David Rempel
Round 2 (Vote for up to four)
Angela Coble
Randall Hodgkinson
Rachel Pickering
David Rempel
Round 3 (Vote for up to three)
Angela Coble
Randall Hodgkinson
Rachel Pickering
Todd Powell
Hays
Partner at law firm of Glassman Bird Powell
Round 1 (Vote for up to five)
Angela Coble
Randall Hodgkinson
Russell Keller
Rachel Pickering
Round 2 (Vote for up to four)
Angela Coble
Randall Hodgkinson
Russell Keller
Rachel Pickering
Round 3 (Vote for up to four)
Angela Coble
Russell Keller
Rachel Pickering
Michael Fleming
Leawood
Attorney at Kapke Willerth
Round 1 (Vote for up to five)
Angela Coble
Randall Hodgkinson
Russell Keller
David Rempel
Kristin Wheeler
Round 2 (Vote for up to four)
Angela Coble
Randall Hodgkinson
Russell Keller
Dave Rempel
Round 3 (Vote for up to three)
Angela Coble
Randall Hodgkinson
Russell Keller
Karen Humphreys
Wichita
Retired federal magistrate judge
Round 1 (Vote for up to five)
Angela Coble
Randall Hodgkinson
Russell Keller
David Rempel
Kristin Wheeler
Round 2 (Vote for up to four)
Angela Coble
Randall Hodgkinson
Russell Keller
David Rempel
Round 3 (Vote for up to three)
Angela Coble
Randall Hodgkinson
Russell Keller
Jonathan Eshnaur
Olathe
Special education teacher
Round 1 (Vote for up to five)
Angela Coble
Russell Keller
Randall Hodgkinson
David Rempel
Rachel Pickering
Round 2 (Vote for up to four)
Angela Coble
Randall Hodgkinson
Russell Keller
Rachel Pickering
Round 3 (Vote for up to three)
Angela Coble
Randall Hodgkinson
Rachel Pickering
Henry Menghini
Pittsburg
Pittsburg city attorney
Round 1 (Vote for up to five)
Angela Coble
Russell Keller
Rachel Pickering
Kristin Wheeler
Round 2 (Vote for up to four)
Angela Coble
Russell Keller
Rachel Pickering
Dave Rempel
Round 3 (Vote for up to three)
Angela Coble
Russell Keller
Rachel Pickering
Henry Schwaller
Hays
Former Hays mayor
Round 1 (Vote for up to five)
Angela Coble
Randall Hodgkinson
Natalie Chalmers
Rachel Pickering
Round 2 (Vote for up to four)
Angela Coble
Randall Hodgkinson
Round 3 (Vote for up to three)
Angela Coble
Randall Hodgkinson
Danielle Dempsey-Swopes
Topeka
Director of diversity & inclusion
Washburn University
Round 1 (Vote for up to five)
Angela Coble
Randall Hodgkinson
Russell Keller
Rachel Pickering
Dave Rempel
Round 2 (Vote for up to four)
Angela Coble
Randall Hodgkinson
Russell Keller
Rachel Pickering
Round 3 (Vote for up to three)
Angela Coble
Randall Hodgkinson
Rachel Pickering
