Letter
To The
Editor
(Editor’s Note: Letters to the Editor are published to encourage our readers to express their views about various issues. The following letter(s) were submitted and signed by those voicing their opinions through the “Letter To The Editor” section)
Letter to the Editor: An amendment to the State’s Constitution is proposed to change the manner Kansas Supreme Court Justices are selected. Currently, notification goes to attorneys registered in Kansas. Kansas Supreme Court candidates are vetted through Merit Based Selection. The committee has 9 members, 4 attorneys voted on by registered attorneys, 4 non-lawyers selected by the Governor, 1 attorney Committee Chair appointed by the Governor. All candidates are vetted for integrity, competence, achievements, experience and commitment to service. During vetting candidates, public hearing is held with State Legislators and the general public. The Committee submits 3 candidates to the Governor to choose from. New Justices stand for retention election after one year of service. All Justices stand for retention every 6 years. Under the proposed amendment, any licensed attorney at least 30 years of age who has practiced law 10 years can run for the Kansas Supreme Court. There will be no public screening process, no investigation into ethical merits, and no safeguards.
Elon Musk donated approximately Twenty Million Dollars to his State Supreme Court Candidate. George Soros donated Two Million Dollars to his Supreme Court Candidate. Governor Pritzker gave over Two Million Dollars to his Candidates.
Kansas corruption happened in 1956-1957 under voted Kansas Supreme Court Justices. Governor Fred Hall lost his election. The Governor appoints whomever they wish to fill the seat until the next election. Chief Justice William Smith facing health issues did not want the new governor to fill his spot. Hall was Smith’s friend. Hall needed a job. Smith planned with Hall. Smith retired. Hall then dispatched a Capital Security Trooper to pick up Lt. Governor John McCuish from a hospital. Hall resigned. McCuish was sworn in. McCuish became Kansas Governor for 11 days. His only important act was to appoint Hall to the Kansas Supreme Court. No notice was given to the public, no vetting process, no say by the people. Outraged, legislators and the people spoke quickly by replacing the voting process in the Constitution with merit selection in 1958.
Vote NO to changing the Kansas Supreme Court selection process.
Jill R. Gillett (Political letter to the editor paid for by Jill Gillett)
