TOPEKA, KS – Governor Laura Kelly and the Kansas Court of Appeals Nominating Commission have announced three nominees to fill the upcoming vacancy on the Kansas Court of Appeals following the retirement of Judge Henry Green, Jr. The governor will select one of the nominees, subject to Senate confirmation.
The three nominees are:
- Meryl Carver-Allmond (Lawrence): Currently serving as general counsel for Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Marla Luckert, Carver-Allmond has an extensive background in appellate law. She previously worked as the training director for the Kansas public defender system and led the Kansas Capital Appellate Defender Office.
- Randall L. Hodgkinson (Topeka): An appellate defender for the Kansas Appellate Defender Office since 2000, Hodgkinson has dedicated his career to criminal defense, representing individuals convicted of felonies before Kansas appellate courts. He also teaches at Washburn University School of Law.
- Judge Lori Bolton-Fleming (Pittsburg): The chief judge for the 11th Judicial District of Kansas since 2021, Bolton-Fleming was originally appointed as a district judge in 2012. Before her judicial career, she worked in private practice and as the legal clinic director at Pittsburg State University.
The nomination process follows Executive Order 20-01, signed by Governor Kelly in 2020, which established the Court of Appeals Nominating Commission. The commission reviews applicants, conducts interviews, and selects three nominees for the governor’s consideration.
Once Governor Kelly makes her selection, the nominee must be confirmed by the Kansas Senate before taking office.
For more updates, visit ThisIsTopeka.com.
