Today Governor Laura Kelly announced that the Court of Appeals Nominating Committee selected Steve Obermeier of Olathe as the additional finalist for the vacancy created by the retirement of Court of Appeals Judge Patrick D. McAnany.
Obermeier is an Assistant Solicitor General with the Kansas Attorney General’s Office, focusing on appellate cases before the Kansas Court of Appeals and the Kansas Supreme Court. Before joining the Attorney General’s Office in 2017, Obermeier worked as a prosecutor for 31 years (1985 to 2016) with the Johnson County District Attorney’s office, where he was the Senior Deputy District Attorney. He graduated from the University of Kansas in 1981 and received his law degree from Washburn University in 1984.
Kelly will select from among Obermeier, Sarah Warner of Lenexa, and Marcia Wood of Wichita and submit her appointment to the Kansas Senate for consideration during the May veto session. The Senate will then have 60 days to vote on the appointment.
“I look forward to working with the Senate to consider and confirm one of these three distinguished attorneys to the Court of Appeals,” Kelly said. “And if Senate President Wagle feels the law regarding Court of Appeals appointments is unclear about the effect of a withdrawn appointment, I am happy to work with her and the Legislature during this veto session to clarify the law through a simple legislative fix.”
Kansas law provides that the governor makes appointments to the Court of Appeals subject to the consent of the Senate. After the appointment is made, the Senate has 60 days to vote on the appointment. If the Senate does not vote, it is deemed to have consented.