Gov. Laura Kelly on Friday announced three finalists for a post on the Kansas Court of Appeals. The finalists – two attorneys in private practice and a judge – were recommended by a screening committee that evaluated the applicants.
Kelly employed the merit-selection process that’s used in selecting Supreme Court justices. Under a law enacted during former Gov. Sam Brownback’s administration, Kelly could have unilaterally appointed a judge to replace Justice Pat McAnany, who retired Jan. 14.
Instead, she used a panel made up of five lawyers and four nonattorneys to choose three candidates to recommend to the governor. Kelly will chose from among the three finalists. Her choice will still need to be approved by the state Senate.
Here are the finalists. If you want to see details about all 18 candidates, check out this overview here.
Sarah E. Warner of Lenexa: Practices at the Thompson Warner law firm in Lawrence. She practices civil litigation with a focus on resolving business, insurance and constitutional disputes.
She also teaches conflict of laws and appellate practice as an adjunct professor at Washburn University School of Law. She is the president of the Kansas Bar Association for 2018-2019.
Before entering private practice, Warner worked in the chambers of the Michigan and Kansas supreme courts.
She worked for 3½ years as the chambers counsel to Robert E. Davis when he was chief justice of the Kansas Supreme Court.
She graduated from the University of Kansas with degrees in French, international studies, mathematics and political science. She received her law degree from Ave Maria School of Law in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Jeffry L. Jack of Parsons: A Labette County district judge since 2005 when he was appointed by former Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. Jack also has served as a board member for the Kansas Health Foundation since 2013.
He served in the Kansas House as a Republican from 2003 to 2005, representing House District 7. He served as vice chair of the House Judiciary Committee in 2005. He was in private practice from 1989 to 2005.
Jack also served in the U.S. Army Reserve and Kansas Army National Guard for 20 years, retiring as a major.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Harvard in 1983 and his law degree from the University of Kansas in 1987.
Two years ago, Jack sat with the Supreme Court on a case involving the district court’s jurisdiction to divide military retirement benefits between a divorced couple.
Marcia A. Wood of Wichita: Attorney and partner with the Martin, Pringle, Oliver, Wallace and Bauer law firm.
Her practice “consists primarily of brief-writing, both at the trial and appellate levels,” according to the firm’s website.
She provides research and writing in a variety of areas, including medical malpractice defense, product liability, and commercial and employment litigation.
She also has experience in municipal and commercial finance. She earned her bachelor’s and law degrees from the University of Kansas.
She clerked six years for U.S. District Judge Frank G. Theis.
