A special panel that screens judicial nominees for the governor has named a Wichita lawyer to the list of finalists for a seat on the Kansas Court of Appeals.
Gov. Laura Kelly’s nominating committee has recommended Marcia A. Wood to join two other lawyers to be considered for the position.
Wood, who has applied for other judgeships in the last year, will be considered for the position along with Wichita attorneys Amy Cline and Diane Sorensen.
The nominee will replace G. Joseph Pierron Jr., who retired April 3.
Wood replaces federal public defender Carl Folsom III, whose nomination to the state appeals courts was rejected by the Senate.
Wood is a 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.
Wood also has experience in municipal and commercial finance. She earned bachelor’s and law degrees from the University of Kansas.
Kelly has the unilateral authority to pick an appeals court judge with Senate confirmation.
However, she has opted to use a nominating panel similar to the one used to pick Supreme Court candidates.
A nominating commission had been used to pick Kansas Court of Appeals candidates until the law was changed in 2013 to give the Senate the ability to confirm nominees.
The governor signed an executive order Monday requiring the nominating commission to recommend another nominee if the governor’s appointment fails to win confirmation.
When the nominating commission met earlier this year, Wood was among the top vote-getters, but lost out to Folsom, Cline and Sorensen.
Wood made it to the last round of balloting, finishing with four votes, behind Cline and Sorensen with five votes each and Folsom with seven.
