The Supreme Court Nominating Commission has forwarded the names of three district judges, all from northeast Kansas, to Governor Laura Kelly to fill a vacancy on the Kansas Supreme Court. The Commission Thursday selected Douglas County District Judge Carl Folsom and Johnson County District Judges K. Christopher Jayaram and Robert Wonnell.
Judge Folsom, of Lawrence, was appointed to the bench in 2022. He previously served as an assistant federal public defender in Kansas and Oklahoma and the Kansas Appellate Defender’s Office, along with being in private practice.
Judge Jayaram, of Lenexa, was appointed to his current position in 2021, after having been associated with the law firms of Horn Aylward & Bandy and Smith Free Heald & Chock.
Judge Wonnell, of Olathe, has been a judge since 2015, having previously been with the McNanay, Van Cleave and Phillip Law firm.
Upon receipt of the official notification of the nominees by Governor Kelly, she will have 60 days to make the selection. The new justice would then have to face a retention vote at the next general election after completing one year of service. If retained, the justice would serve a full six year term on the court.
