Time To Vote Yes
I’m not generally a “letter to the editor” contributor but have noticed an all-out effort in recent weeks to defeat the state constitution amendment (concerning Kansas Supreme Court appointments) that will be on the August 4 primary ballot. This will be the only opportunity we have to vote on this issue as it will not be on the November ballot – so it needs our attention now.
Much of what I have seen being “advertised” by those urging a “no” vote appears to me to be misinformation. For example, since when is it bad to let the taxpaying voters select our state officials (like the Kansas Supreme Court) instead of a small “committee” selected and manned by a majority of essentially self-selected lawyers?
And these ads also state that a “yes” vote will put the state’s “millionaires” in control of this process. Really? I have no input to the initial appointment of the justices now. If the amendment passes, I will have a vote. Currently it is a small group of attorneys. So . . . who might be the millionaires here?
A recent statement by our current President of the Kansas Senate and candidate for governor Ty Masterson (who has represented Kansas voters for 21 years and closely observed our Supreme Court over this time) addresses the issues as follows: “Kansas’s current system isn’t apolitical at all–it’s just politics veiled by a commission, and we should stop pretending. Direct elections make the political dynamic explicit, not hidden in backrooms by bar members who think they are better than the rest of us. The current system’s promise of impartiality rings hollow when its rulings run afoul of the public and leave them no recourse to fight. Electing judges will sometimes be messy and yes, involve money and all the other things that go along with elections. But, let’s let the people decide if they want the power; if they want to trade an elitist relic for a democratic system where they will hold the reins.”
Big bucks are being spent on advertising to vote “no” for this amendment through supporters like the Kansas Bar Association, ACLU of Kansas, Kansas Women Attorneys Association, and Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes. Note: 6 of the 7 current justices certainly appear to be “progressive,” with one common sense conservative.
As it stands, Kansas has a judicial system that’s largely controlled by one interest group: the Kansas Bar Association. The approval of this amendment will give every Kansas voter a say in selecting our Supreme Court justices so that we can end undue influence by political insiders over our highest court. It’s time to make our court truly impartial with accountability and transparency from everyone. Vote YES on your primary ballot!
Sincerely,
Doug Niemeir*
*A lifelong Kansas resident and voter, and by the way – not a millionaire.
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