Douglas County district judge finalists include two courthouse insiders

The 7th Judicial District Nominating Commission narrowed nine applicants to three finalists for the Douglas County District Court seat left open by Sally Pokorny’s retirement, sending the names to Gov. Laura Kelly on June 24. Two of the finalists already work in the courthouse as pro tem judges, a result that points to continuity at a bench that manages felony criminal cases, civil disputes, family matters and specialty courts at the Douglas County Judicial and Law Enforcement Center in Lawrence. The commission’s June 22 interview session was open to the public.

The finalists are Blake Gover of Baldwin City, Paul Klepper of Lawrence and Krystal Vokins of Lawrence. Gover and Klepper are both listed in Douglas County court materials as pro tem judges, while Vokins serves as assistant training director with the Kansas Board of Indigents’ Defense Services. That split gives Kelly a choice between two candidates already working inside local courtroom routines and a third whose background is rooted in indigent defense and criminal justice administration.

For people who depend on the courthouse, the difference is practical. A pro tem judge already knows the pace of Douglas County’s nine-division docket, the lawyers who appear regularly and the pressure points that can slow hearings, from crowded criminal calendars to contested family cases. Vokins brings a different perspective, one tied to the defense side of the justice system, which could shape how a new judge approaches scheduling, courtroom communication and the day-to-day handling of defendants, victims and attorneys who move through the bench.

Pokorny’s retirement created the vacancy on April 10 after 17 years on the bench and nearly 50 years in the legal profession. She joined the bench in 2009 after being appointed by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, following a career that included work as both a defense attorney and a prosecutor. Pokorny was also the first woman elected county attorney in Independence and Montgomery County.

Kansas procedure gives the governor 60 days to make the appointment after receiving the nominating commission’s list. The new judge then must stand for a retention vote after one year, and if retained will serve a four-year term. That means Kelly’s choice will quickly become part of the local election process, not just a courtroom appointment, and the judge selected now will help steer Douglas County’s civil and criminal caseload well beyond the initial transition.