| TOPEKA—The Supreme Court Nominating Commission today voted on the names of three nominees for Supreme Court justice to send to Governor Laura Kelly.
A letter from the nominating commission chair will be hand-delivered to the governor’s office during regular business hours to formally notify her of the commission’s selection.
Its delivery will begin the 60-day timeline the governor has to decide which of the three nominees she will appoint to fill a Kansas Supreme Court vacancy that was created when Justice Marla Luckert retired March 28.
The three nominees are:
Carl Folsom
Folsom has been a district judge in Douglas County District Court since 2022. He previously was an assistant federal public defender for both the Federal Public Defender Offices for the District of Kansas and for the Northern and Eastern Districts of Oklahoma, a partner with the Bell Folsom law firm, and appellate defender with the Kansas Appellate Defender’s Office. He graduated from the University of Kansas and the University of Kansas School of Law. He lives in Lawrence.
K. Christopher Jayaram
Jayaram has been a district judge in Johnson County District Court since 2021. He previously was a lawyer with the Horn Aylward & Bandy and Smith Free Heald & Chock law firms. He graduated from the University of Kansas and the Northwestern School of Law at Lewis & Clark College. He lives in Lenexa.
Robert Wonnell
Wonnell has been a district judge in Johnson County District Court since 2015. He previously was a lawyer with the McAnany, Van Cleave and Phillips law firm. He graduated from Phillips University and the University of Kansas School of Law. He lives in Olathe.
Public interviews
| The commission interviewed seven applicants in the Kansas Judicial Center in Topeka before narrowing the list of nominees to three through successive rounds of voting. All interviews and voting were open to the public and livestreamed on YouTube.
Recordings of the commission meeting, interviews, and voting are archived on YouTube at youtube.com/@KansasJudicialBranch.
Merit-based selection process
Justices are appointed to the Supreme Court through a merit-based nomination process that Kansans voted to add to the Kansas Constitution in 1958. The process involves the Supreme Court Nominating Commission, which reviews nominees, and the governor, who makes the appointment.
When there is a vacancy on the court, the Supreme Court Nominating Commission reviews applications and conducts public interviews of nominees. The commission narrows the nominee pool to three names that it sends to the governor. The governor chooses one nominee to appoint.
Eligibility requirements
To be considered for this vacancy, a nominee must be: |
|
|
|
- at least 30 years old; and
- a lawyer admitted to practice in Kansas and engaged in the practice of law for at least 10 years, whether as a lawyer, judge, or full-time teacher at an accredited law school.
|
|
|
|
| Selection criteria
When the Supreme Court Nominating Commission reviews nominees for justice, they look at the person’s: |
|
|
|
- legal and judicial experience
- educational background
- character and ethics
- temperament
- service to the community
- impartiality
- respect of colleagues
|
|
|
|
| Judicial conduct
Justices must follow the law and not be influenced by politics, special interest groups, public opinion, or their own personal beliefs.
Justices demonstrate their accountability by following a Code of Judicial Conduct that establishes standards of ethical behavior. They also take an oath of office that includes swearing to support, protect, and defend the U.S. Constitution and Kansas Constitution.
Retention elections
After a new justice serves one year on the court, he or she must stand for a retention vote in the next general election to remain in the position. If retained, the justice serves a six-year term.
Supreme Court Nominating Commission
The Supreme Court Nominating Commission is an independent body created by the Kansas Constitution.
Four of the commission’s members are appointed by the governor representing each of the state’s congressional districts. These appointees are not attorneys. Four other members are attorneys elected by attorneys within their congressional district. The commission chair is an attorney elected by attorneys in a statewide vote.
Commission members are: Terrence Campbell, chair, and Diane Oakes, Lawrence; Robert Frederick, Lakin; Jennifer M. Cocking, Emporia; Frances Gorman Graves, Bartlett; Katie McClaflin, Overland Park; Carol Marinovich, Kansas City; and Rachael Pirner and Ebony Clemons, Wichita. |
|
|
|
|
