Judicial Selection will go to the People!
The state, second district and Shawnee county GOP are making plans for a resolution in support of SCR 1611.
The Kansas Senate and House have passed SCR1611 — Proposing a constitutional amendment to provide for direct election of supreme court justices and abolish the supreme court nominating commission. This has been a vote giving us citizens the right to vote. In the August primary election of 2026, We The People of Kansas will vote if we'd like the selection system to change to us voting for which Kansas Supreme Court judges we want, or if we'd rather keep the current selection process (i.e., nomination commission of which five of nine are attorneys). If the People of Kansas pass this constitutional amendment, the Kansas legislature is expected to subsequently pass legislation to determine the qualifications for candidacy for Kansas Supreme Court justices, so that qualifications must be met in order to get on the ballot as a judge for the highest court in Kansas.
On March 6th, the Senate adopted SCR 1611 as amended by required 2/3 majority; Yea: 27 Nay: 13. On March 19th, it passed in the House by required 2/3 majority as well; Yea: 84 Nay: 40.
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RESOLUTION (DRAFT) IN SUPPORT OF DIRECT ELECTIONS OF KANSAS SUPREME COURT JUSTICES
WHEREAS, the power of self-governance is inherent in the people, and democracy is a cherished value that must be upheld in all branches of government, including the judiciary; and
WHEREAS, the current method of selecting Kansas Supreme Court justices—through a nominating commission dominated by lawyers—creates a system that is of lawyers, by lawyers, and for lawyers, disenfranchising the citizens of Kansas from having a direct say in their highest court; and
WHEREAS, only lawyers are permitted to elect the lawyer-majority members of the Kansas Supreme Court Nominating Commission, making it an elitist oligarchy rather than a system accountable to the people; and
WHEREAS, the Kansas Supreme Court has repeatedly issued rulings that do not reflect the values and interests of the people of Kansas, including siding with brutal murderers such as the Carr brothers rather than delivering the justice that Kansans demand; and
WHEREAS, over the past 20 years, the U.S. Supreme Court has overturned 87.5% of the Kansas Supreme Court decisions it has reviewed, demonstrating a troubling pattern of judicial overreach and misinterpretation of the law; and
WHEREAS, direct elections of Kansas Supreme Court justices would restore the people's right to select justices who are both qualified and representative of our state's values, ensuring that the judiciary remains accountable to Kansans rather than to an insulated legal elite; and
WHEREAS, the current system protects the special interests of lawyers, who have a vested interest in preserving their exclusive control over the judicial selection process at the expense of the democratic will of the people; and
WHEREAS, Republicans remain committed to democracy and the principles of representative government, ensuring that all branches of government reflect the will of the people and uphold the constitutional rights of Kansans;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Second Congressional District Republican Party fully supports judicial selection reform and endorses a YES vote on August 4, 2026, to implement direct elections for Kansas Supreme Court justices; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Second District Republican Party urges all voters to support this essential reform, restoring judicial accountability, upholding constitutional republic principles, and ensuring that the judiciary serves the people rather than an unelected legal elite. *****
During the August 2026 primary election, Kansas voters will determine whether or not to adopt this amendment (SCR 1611). The drafted resolution above is to encourage YES votes so that this constitutional amendment passes when the electorate votes in the August 2026 primary. Second District delegates will have the opportunity for a Yes or No vote for the resolution during the convention April 26. Prior to the resolution vote, a brief explanation will be given. Again, the proposed resolution is an early effort to gain support for passage of the constitutional amendment by the electoral in August of next year.
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