By: NICOLAS FIERRO
Salina Post
The majority of Kansas voters in the August primaries voted "NO" to keep the current selection process of how Supreme Court Justices are selected.
The amendment on each voter's ballot allowed Kansans the right to elect Kansas Supreme Court justices as provided by law. However, for those who voted against this amendment were in favor of continuing the current system in which the Kansas Supreme Court Nominating Commission, whose membership consists of a majority of lawyers, provides the governor a list of three individuals to choose from for vacancies on the Supreme Court.
The total votes are as follows according to the Secretary of State's office:
No: 378,629
Yes: 239,017
Therefore, the Nominating Commission will not be abolished.
Section 5 of Article 3 of the Kansas Constitution currently lists that Kansas Supreme Court justices are nominated by the Supreme Court Nominating Commission consisting of nine members, including one lawyer and one non-lawyer from each of the state’s four congressional districts, plus one lawyer who serves as the chairperson.
In the event of a vacancy on the Supreme Court, the Commission is required to submit the names of three qualified persons to the governor, who makes the appointment.
Current law also provides for the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to make the appointment in the event the governor fails to do so within 60 days of the submission of nominees and for justices to be subject to retention elections after their first year in office and every 6 years thereafter.