PITTSBURG, Kan. —Seven people have applied to fill a district judge vacancy created by Judge Oliver Kent Lynch’s August 1 retirement, the 11th Judicial District Nominating Commission reported last week. The new judge will oversee a district composed of Cherokee, Crawford, and Labette counties. The seven individuals who applied are: Maradeth Frederick, a solo practitioner  Troy Unruh, contract counsel for Young Williams  Candace Brewster Gayoso, guardian ad litem for Cherokee County, and city attorney for the cities of Weir, Baxter Springs, and Galena  JoAnna Derfelt, a solo practitioner  Douglas Steele, a solo practitioner  Nathan Coleman, Cherokee County Attorney  Valorie Leblanc, district magistrate judge, 6th Judicial District Public interviews are the next step, and the nominating commission will convene at 9 a.m. Tuesday, October 12 with interviews starting at 9:30 a.m.