By Anna Kaminski | reporter
Good morning!
The verdict is in. Well, kind of. The Kansas Supreme Court’s nominating commission yesterday vetted the applicants for a vacancy on the state’s highest court, ultimately sending three names to the governor for selection.
The process of applying, interviewing, and then nominating for consideration is one that could soon be extinct. A ballot question will come before voters in the August primary, proposing a switch to a popular vote, campaign-based method of selecting state Supreme Court justices.
That wasn’t lost on the nonpartisan commission or the candidates. Senior reporter Tim Carpenter covered the meeting and said the commission chair’s opening remarks vouched for the current merit-based system, which the chair said works for the people of Kansas rather than party loyalties or money.
Look for more on that next week, but for now, some news.
Have a good long weekend.
Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector
Kansas commission picks three district judges as finalists for opening on state Supreme Court
TOPEKA — The state’s nonpartisan nominating commission Thursday named three district court judges as finalists for a vacancy on the Kansas Supreme Court.
Former Chief Justice Marla Luckert’s retirement in March created a vacancy on the seven-justice court. Luckert, who devoted 23 years of her legal career to the serving on the Supreme Court, stepped down after suffering a stroke in October that preceded a vehicle accident.
Kansas Reflector
OPINION
In parade of memes, Cindy Holscher’s daughter reveals another side of candidate for Kansas governor
By Eric Thomas
Here’s a riddle.
As a parent, when are you OK with your child procrastinating on studying for their Calculus 3 final?
One answer: when your child creates a TikTok account that promotes your run for governor and collects more than 500,000 likes and 8,500 followers.
Eric Lee/Getty Images
Sagging poll ratings, soaring gas prices put GOP in a fix for keeping US House control
KANSAS CITY, Missouri — When Vice President JD Vance pitched voters on electing Republicans to Congress this November during a trip to a Kansas City manufacturing plant on Monday, he delivered the message while standing in a newly gerrymandered U.S. House district.
“If you want congressional leadership that fights to lower your taxes, that fights to put more money in your pockets and fights to protect your jobs, the only game in town is Donald J. Trump and congressional Republicans,” Vance said.
Kansas attorney general secures $1M restitution order against builder in consumer fraud case
TOPEKA — The owner of an Ellis County construction business agreed to a district court order obligating payment of more than $1 million in restitution to eight customers and compliance with a permanent ban on operating any type of business in Kansas.
Kansas officials offer $90k to former state employees who alleged discrimination, retaliation
TOPEKA — Kansas officials offered a combined $90,000 in payouts to settle lawsuits from two former state employees who alleged the state discriminated and retaliated against them.
The State Finance Council on Wednesday approved agreements to pay a former state hospital employee and a former commerce department program director.
US Senate GOP punts immigration bill amid big split with Trump over settlement fund
WASHINGTON — A multibillion-dollar package to fund immigration enforcement for the rest of President Donald Trump’s term faced new delays Thursday as Senate Republicans showed a rare split with the president over his new “anti-weaponization” fund.
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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