TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) _ A state commission has nominated a former conservative lawmaker now serving as a trial judge as one of three finalists for a seat on the Kansas Court of Appeals.

But the statewide judicial nominating commission on Friday passed over Gov. Sam Brownback's top attorney, Caleb Stegall, as a finalist.

The commission named Sedgwick County District Judge Tony Powell as a finalist for a Court of Appeals vacancy created by the October death of Chief Judge Richard Greene.

The other two finalists are prominent attorneys Dennis Depew, of Neodesha, and Stephen Kerwick, of Eastborough.

There were 25 applicants for the vacancy. Nine of those were interviewed for this specific vacancy. The other 16 had applied for an upcoming vacancy created by Judge Christel Marquardt's announcement she'll retire in January.

Finalists for Marquardt's position are Steven Obermeier, Senior Deputy District Attorney in Johnson County; Judge Kim Schroeder of Hugoton District Court; and Teresa Watson, a Topeka attorney in private practice.

Twenty of the candidates, including Stegall and Powell, also applied for an earlier vacancy on the 13-member court.