20-337.   District magistrate judges who are not admitted topractice law, temporary certificates; examinations; manual of laws andprinciples prepared by supreme court.Any person who takes office as district magistrate judge on January 10,1977, and any person who thereafter is elected or appointed to theoffice of district magistrate judge and, in either event, and who hasnot been regularly admitted to practice law in Kansas, as required bysubsection (c)(3) of K.S.A. 20-334, shall be issued atemporary certificate permitting such judge to commence upon the dutiesof office, conditioned that such judge becomes certified as beingqualified to hold such office, as provided herein. The supreme courtshall provide by rule for the examination of such district magistratejudges, in order to ensure that each such district magistrate judgepossesses the minimum skills and knowledge necessary to carry out theduties of such office. Such examination shall be administered withoutcharge, and shall be given at least once each six months at a time andplace designated by the supreme court. If a district magistrate judgefails to successfully complete such examination within eighteen (18)months after the date said judge takes office, said judge shall forfeithis or her office and the district magistrate judge position for whichsuch judge was elected or appointed shall be vacant at the expiration ofsuch eighteen-month period. A district magistrate judge who fails tosuccessfully complete any examination may take such examination again atthe next time it is offered prior to the expiration of sucheighteen-month period. Any person who fails to successfully completethe examination within the prescribed time shall be ineligible forelection or appointment as a district magistrate judge, unless suchperson subsequently meets all the qualifications prescribed bysubsection (c)(3) of K.S.A. 20-334.

      Any person who successfully completes the examination administeredunder this section shall be certified by the supreme court as qualifiedto hold such office. Any district magistrate judge who has been socertified shall be eligible for reelection or retention in office asprovided in this act.

      The supreme court shall prepare a manual which shall contain thesubstantive and procedural rules of law and principles of judicialconduct which are deemed necessary to be understood and practiced by adistrict magistrate judge. Such manual shall be given to each districtmagistrate judge who is required to be examined under this sectionsubsequent to the time of such judge's election or appointment. Fromtime to time, as the necessity arises, such manual shall be amended andsupplemented to reflect changes in the law or code of judicial conduct.

      History:   L. 1976, ch. 146, § 22; April 19.