Kansas legislature approves judicial selection change
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March 14, 2013
Kansas: On March 12, the Kansas Senate gave final approval to a law that would grant the governor more power in selecting judges for the Court of Appeals. The bill would eliminate the attorney-led nominating commission that screens applicants for the Court of Appeals before submitting three finalists to the Governor to choose from for the appointment. If Gov. Brownback passes this new law, as he is expected to do, he would make the appointments himself, without the help of the commission.
The Governor has publicly criticized the current system, saying that it gives the bar too much power. Opponents of the new law argue that there is no need for a change and that the commission helps to keep politics out of the selection process.
The bill was passed by the House at the beginning of the month with a 73-50 vote. The Senate voted 28-12 in favor of the bill.[1][2]
UPDATE: The bill was signed by Gov. Sam Brownback and became law on March 27, 2013.[3]
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ Kansas City Business Journal, "Judicial selection bill headed to Gov. Brownback," March 14, 2013
- ↑ The Wichita Eagle, "Kansas Senate approves changing judicial selection," March 13, 2013
- ↑ Legal Newsline, "Kansas Court of Appeals judges now picked by governor, with Senate confirmation," March 28, 2013
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