Kansas Senate committee advances proposal to let voters elect Supreme Court justices

Senate Concurrent Resolution 16‑11, a proposed amendment to Article 3 of the Kansas Constitution that would require Kansas voters to elect Supreme Court justices and abolish the state nominating commission, cleared committee of the whole review and was reported favorably to the full Senate on a voice vote Wednesday.

The measure, explained and carried on the floor by Senator Thompson, senator from Johnson, would replace the current merit‑selection process with direct elections and set a staggered schedule for justices’ terms: positions 1–3 at the November 2028 general election, positions 4–5 at November 2030, and positions 6–7 at November 2032, with subsequent six‑year terms as provided by law. “The citizens of Kansas who are qualified electors shall elect the justices of the Supreme Court,” Thompson said while reading the amendment’s…