The August 4 Constitutional Question

Hello Riley County Democrats,

By now, you’ve probably heard of the constitutional question that will determine whether we maintain our current merit-based process for selecting Kansas Supreme Court justices or replace it with partisan, donor-controlled elections.

I want to make the stakes of this amendment abundantly clear.

The Kansas State Constitution guarantees everyone an independent, fair, and impartial court system. The non-partisan nominating commission insulates the selection of justices from the divisiveness of political parties, and the prohibition on campaign spending prevents wealthy individuals and corporations from buying favor with the court.

Under our current system, only qualified, well-respected legal professionals have the privilege of serving on our state supreme court, and we all benefit from it.

If this amendment passes, the principle of judicial independence will fade in Kansas.

Individuals interested in serving on the Kansas Supreme Court would have to wage campaigns backed by political parties, special interest groups, and wealthy donors from inside and outside of Kansas. Instead of the best legal minds rising to the bench, politically ambitious candidates with an agenda will run.

That is the intent of the amendment. Kris Kobach and Ty Masterson, the authors of the amendment, have openly said their goal is to change how justices are selected so they can repeal constitutional rights that our court has protected in the past. These rights include fully funded public education and reproductive autonomy.

It is both foolish and selfish to discard a high-functioning judicial selection process–one that upholds the standard of equal justice under the law–because of grievances for two issues. The only people who stand to gain from this amendment are those who already possess immense political and economic power.

When you vote on the constitutional amendment, if you haven’t already, consider these stakes. Justices should be loyal to the U.S. Constitution, the Kansas State Constitution, and the rule of law– nothing else. Introducing the influence of political parties and campaign donors can undermine judicial fairness and diminish the court’s obligation to protect our rights against laws that weaken them.

Early voting continues through Monday, August 3rd. Primary election day, the final day to vote, is Tuesday, August 4th. All registered voters, regardless of party affiliation, may vote on the amendment. We should maintain the current judicial system that has served all of us well for nearly 70 years, instead of inviting political groups and campaign contributors to decide who sits on the Kansas Supreme Court. Vote No on the amendment; the future of Kansas depends on it.

Best,

Kelm Lear

Chair