Conversion of district magistrate judge positions to new district judge positions; procedure

If, upon the death, resignation, retirement or removal of a district magistrate judge in any judicial district, the supreme court determines that, in order to effectively expedite the business of the district court in the judicial district, the district magistrate judge position should be eliminated and that an additional position of district judge or an additional division of the district court of the judicial district should be created, the supreme court shall certify to the secretary of state the elimination of the district magistrate judge position and the creation of an additional position of district judge or division of the district court. If the position or division is to be created in a judicial district in which the proposition of nonpartisan selection of district court judges has been approved, as provided in K.S.A. 20-2901, and amendments thereto, the certification also shall be made to the chairperson of the district judicial nominating commission of the judicial district. When the certification has been made, the position or division shall be deemed created and the judgeship therefor shall be deemed vacant, to be filled in the manner provided by law for filling vacancies in judgeships in the judicial district.