By Clay Wirestone | opinion editor
Good morning! I hope Memorial Day was all you hoped and dreamed. If not, at least the week ahead should be short. I hear from sources on the ground that editor Sherman Smith just might return today, so let the excitement build. Now, your news.
Tim Carpenter / Kansas Reflector
OPINION
An amendment could rend the Kansas Supreme Court. This low-key meeting shows what’s at stake.
By Clay Wirestone
The August vote on Kansas Supreme Court justice selection will affect the course of our shared government and civic life for an age.
That sounds like a big, overarching statement, but it has the benefit of being true. Whether justices for the state Supreme Court will continue to be vetted via a merit-based system — albeit one that includes public retention votes — or be sent to office through statewide elections has implications for abortion care, education funding, LGTBQ+ rights and so much more.
You could watch Kansas jurists grappling with this situation at the commission hearing last week nominating a new high court member. Former Chief Justice Marla Luckert's retirement opened a spot, and so a new crop of applicants threw their proverbial hats in the ring to serve. Members picked three finalists from the seven; Gov. Laura Kelly will make a final decision.
Commission chairman Terry Campbell talked about the system and its benefits in his opening remarks. It’s worth hearing what he has to say, especially if you’re not sure why Kansas selects judges the way it does and what benefits the process offers.
"You are watching a process that has been placed in place in Kansas for nearly 70 years," Campbell told the audience. "The voters of Kansas back in the late 1950s adopted a process to try to ensure that we have fair and impartial courts here in the state of Kansas. It's worked quite well.
"We've had a Supreme Court over the years that has reversed both the policies of Democratic governors and the policies of Republican governors. It's resulted in a process whereby Supreme Court justices are beholden to the people of Kansas and the Kansas Constitution, and not beholden to billionaire donors to fund their election campaigns."
Sherman Smith / Kansas Reflector
Early dose of Kansas political ads sheds light on tactics, promises, demeanor of candidates
TOPEKA — Transparently dissimilar state Sens. Ethan Corson and Ty Masterson were drawn to similar homespun tactics for commercials announcing their campaigns for governor of Kansas.
South Dakota Searchlight
Year-round ethanol blend bill passed by US House faces uncertain Senate path
Proponents of ethanol, including lawmakers from corn-growing states, say year-round sales of a gasoline blend containing 15% of the biofuel would give consumers a less expensive alternative to fill their gas tanks, boost energy supplies and benefit agricultural interests.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Kansas Reflector staff will participate in the following free public forums.
6:30 p.m. June 12, Kansas Museum of History in Topeka. Opinion editor Clay Wirestone will join a panel discussion: "From the Desk of William Allen White: What Can Journalism Today Learn from the Sage of Emporia?"
5:30 p.m. June 16, Bradbury Alumni Center at Washburn University in Topeka. Editor-in-chief Sherman Smith will lead a discussion on the proposed constitutional amendment to elect Kansas Supreme Court justices. Host: Kansas Appleseed. Register here.
6 p.m. June 24, Groover Labs in Wichita. Editor-in-chief Sherman Smith will lead a discussion on the proposed constitutional amendment to elect Kansas Supreme Court justices. Host: Kansas Appleseed. Register here.
6 p.m. June 25, Clint Bowyer Community Building in Emporia. Editor-in-chief Sherman Smith will lead a discussion on the proposed constitutional amendment to elect Kansas Supreme Court justices. Host: Kansas Appleseed. Register here.
7 p.m. June 27, Park City Senior Center. Host: Park City Community Pride.
2 p.m. Sept. 27, Red Rocks Visitor Center in Emporia. Host: Red Rocks.
If you're interested in having us talk in your town, email Sherman Smith at [email protected].
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