How a GOP plan to elect judges could end abortion rights in Kansas

[RandySF]

Kansas voters will decide on Aug. 4 whether to approve a Republican-backed amendment that would radically alter how justices are selected for the state Supreme Court—and potentially endanger abortion rights. With the election just a month away, both sides are now airing ads to get their message out.

“Right now, the Kansas Supreme Court is fair and impartial, because judges are qualified and voter approved,” says the narrator for Kansas United for Impartial Courts, a group urging a “no” vote.

The spot, though, warns of what would happen if the GOP’s amendment passes. The proposal would require that all justices be directly elected statewide starting in 2028.

“[J]udges will become politicians for sale,” predicts the narrator. “Billionaires will bankroll campaigns, and then push whatever laws they want.”



https://www.the-downballot.com/p/morning-digest-how-a-gop-plan-to

[slightlv]

1. I ended up trying to explain this one to my hubs last night.

He couldn't believe the audacity of it. The language will be key, you can bet on it. They always word these amendments in the trickiest form possible... same thing with the marine law a few years back. That one tricked my husband, and he was furious afterwards.

My sister is livid at this, as am I. We're trying our best to get the word out, but she has to be especially careful. One of the biggest backers of this is the Archdiocese of KC. They haven't gotten over the fact they lost the last two times... and especially that they lost that first vote. They just couldn't believe that we, the People, would vote to actively KILL our own babies (bah!). We want the ability to control our own bodies, and they just can't abide that. So, they'll pull every dirty trick in the book they can find or make up. My sister is a teacher at one of the Catholic schools. It's the only job she's ever held, and her contract could just as easily be not renewed, which is why she has to be careful as to what she does or says. She's near enough to retirement to be scared of what they could do to her. And THAT makes me even MORE livid!

[Shrek]

2. The language seems pretty straightforward to me

https://sos.ks.gov/elections/proposed-constitutional-amendments.html

Explanatory statement. This amendment gives the voters the right to elect the justices of the Kansas supreme court. The justices shall serve terms of six years, with the elections of justice positions 1, 2 and 3 to occur in 2028, positions 4 and 5 to occur in 2030 and positions 6 and 7 to occur in 2032, and every six years thereafter. The rules applicable for such elections and the designation of position numbers shall be provided by law. Any vacancy on the court for an unexpired term shall be filled at an election as provided by law.

A vote for this proposition would give Kansas citizens the right to elect Kansas supreme court justices as provided by law. Justices will hold office for terms of six years. The Kansas supreme court nominating commission, whose membership consists of a majority of lawyers, would be abolished.

A vote against this proposition would continue the current system in which the Kansas supreme court nominating commission, whose membership consists of a majority of lawyers, provides the governor a list of three individuals to choose from for vacancies on the Kansas supreme court. Justices hold office for a term of six years and retain their offices if they win a retention election in which they do not face an opponent.

Shall the following be adopted?

§ 5. Selection of justices of the supreme court. The citizens of Kansas who are qualified electors shall elect the justices of the supreme court. The rules applicable for such elections and the designation of position numbers shall be provided by law. Justice positions 1, 2 and 3 shall be elected at the general election in November of 2028, justice positions 4 and 5 in November of 2030 and justice positions 6 and 7 in November of 2032, and every six years thereafter, respectively. Any vacancy occurring on the supreme court for an unexpired term shall be filled by election as provided by law.