Gov. Kathleen Sebelius is considering three Emporia attorneys as the newest member of the bench in Lyon and Chase counties.
After interviews Nov. 14, the Fifth Judicial Nominating Commission forwarded the names of Jeffry J. Larson, Blaise Plummer and Rodney Symmonds to the governor. One of the men will replace District Judge John Sanderson, who retires early next year.
Jeffry Larson
Q What made you decide to apply for the judge position?
A It’s something I’ve been thinking about for several years. A couple of my colleagues in the bar had talked to me about it and suggested that I think about it.
It’s something I think I can be effective with and it presents new challenges that I think would be interesting.
Q What qualities do you have that you feel would make you a good judge?
A I have 18 years of experience in general practice here in Emporia. I have a strong connection with the community. I believe my personality is the kind of personality that litigants can appreciate in a judge that is hearing their case. I have the ability to make difficult decisions as evidenced by my tenure on the school board.
Q Tell me about your law experience.
A I am a graduate from both Emporia State and law school at Washburn University. I was a prosecutor in Crawford County for a year and a half before moving back to Emporia. I moved back in 1988 and have been here since then.
Blaise Plummer
Q What made you decide to apply for the judge position?
A It’s been an aspiration of mine for a number of years. The way we select judges you have to have a combination of being in the right place at the right time and you have to have the desire to do it. I have both those things.
I just thought I’d like to put my name out there and see if I have a chance to be selected for the position. I’ve been practicing law for over 20 years and I’ve seen a lot of court time and appeared in front of a lot of judges.
I feel like I would like to have the opportunity to improve the judicial system as far as delivering the efficient and orderly administration of justice. You see on TV the courts are portrayed in sort of a disassociated fashion. There’s some truth of that portrayal but it’s not being portrayed accurately. I would like to be able to be put in a position to do something about that.
The other thing that is concerning to me is the independence of judiciary. The recent forces of the right of the left and they’re both trying to have an unhealthy influence on the judicial system. It’s not a forum for a political policy system. It’s for a protection for our way of life basically. You don’t want that to be a duly influence for either side of that spectrum.
Q What qualities do you have that you feel would make you a good judge?
A I think that I’ve had a lot of great experiences. I think that’s good because as a judge you’re basically being asked to work on all the different kinds of cases. Although my most recent experience has been public law and municipal law, I’ve had experience in all these types of cases. It takes time to do that. You need more exposure to get up to that level.
I think that all three of the candidates have that quality. All the candidates are very well-experienced.
Q Tell me about your law experience.
A After I graduated from law school I was admitted to the bar in 1982 and I received an appointment to law clerk for a federal judge in Wichita for two years. That was a very educational experience. That really sparked my interest, inspired me to try for a judgeship for some time. I went into private practice in Wichita for approximately a year and then I moved to Overland Park, was in private practice there in Johnson County and Wyandotte County and became a partner at Carson Fields. I served in legislature in 1993 and 1994. State representative for Johnson County. After that I became an assistant city attorney in Wichita approximately eight years and then in 2000 the job here in Emporia came open. The city attorney job and I was fortunate to be selected.
Rodney Symmonds
Q What made you decide to apply for the judge position?
A It was my pleasure to serve as the county attorney in Lyon County for 14 1/2 years. During that period of time I went to work every day, I felt I was working to make Lyon County a better place to live and work as a family.
I felt the opportunity for serving as a district judge is an opportunity to make Lyon County a better place to live and work as a family.
Q What qualities do you have that you feel would make you a good judge?
A I’ve been a lifelong resident of Lyon County. I’m actually the fifth generation of my family to live here in the county. I’ve practiced law here since 1978.
Q Tell me about your law experience.
A When I first graduated from law school I engaged in the private practice of law in Emporia. I did so until 1982, at which time I was appointed to serve as Lyon County attorney until January 1997 when I once again assumed private practice of law in Emporia.
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