The 31st Judicial District Nominating Commission selected Moran attorney Bret Heim Monday as the new Allen County Magistrate Judge. Heim, who was the only applicant for the position, will succeed Charles Apt III, who retired June 10th bringing to a close a long history of legal service in the community.
Heim’s new position will take effect on his swearing in, the date for which has not been set as he will need to wind down affairs in his private law practice.
Under the retention system used in about half of Kansas’ judicial districts, a magistrate judge. After serving one year in office, Heim will stand for a retention vote in the next general election. If retained, the incumbent will serve a four-year term.
The Nominating Commission will reconvene Thursday at noon to discuss the nomination process to fill a second open judgeship in the 31st District, which includes Allen, Neosho, Wilson and Woodson counties. Wilson County District Judge David Rogers is retiring at the conclusion of his current term January 11, 2027.
Selection of a district judge differs from a magistrate judge in that while the latter is directly appointed by the nominating commission, it will submit a list of three to five names to the governor, who makes the final selection. The retention procedure is the same for both district and magistrate judges.
The 31st Judicial District is composed of Allen, Neosho, Wilson, and Woodson counties.
The District Nominating Commission is chaired by Kansas Supreme Court Justice Larkin Walsh as a non-voting member. Commission members include David Clark and Mark Lair of Chanute; Nancy Burns and John Chenoweth of Fredonia; Douglas Depew of Neodesha; Craig Mentzer of Neosho Falls; Shelia Lampe of Piqua; and Donald Greg Taylor of Stark.
