By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
The 2026 primary election already looks to be an important one with several candidates in the Kansas gubernatorial race. A lesser-known issue will determine how Kansas Supreme Court justices are selected in the future. An informational meeting at 6:30 p.m. tonight at the Great Bend Senior Center will help educate voters on the ballot measure.
Tonight's meeting at 2005 Kansas Ave. begins with pizza at 6 p.m. The actual program begins at 6:30 p.m., with Judge Karen Arnold-Burger and Logan Stenseng, with Kansas Appleseed, filling out the panel. The event is sponsored by Women for Kansas Barton County.
Currently, when a Kansas Supreme Court vacancy occurs, a nine-person Supreme Court Nomination Commission receives applications to fill the vacancy. The commission submits three candidates to the governor, who must select one of the three candidates within 60 days. If the governor declines, the chief justice will make a selection. After serving one year, justices face a statewide yes or no retention vote, then face a similar vote every six years.
Under the proposed change, when a Supreme Court vacancy occurs, Kansas voters would vote directly to fill the vacancy. The nine-member nominating commission would be eliminated, and candidates could campaign for votes just like any other election.
Kansas is the only state that uses a bar-controlled commission in which attorneys select the Supreme Court nominees, though 20 other states have a similar selection process. In ten of those states, governors control the commissions.
Opponents of the proposal say the current merit-based system has worked well since its implementation in 1958, and that voting "yes" on the measure would politicize the judicial process. Advocates say a "yes" vote would give more power to Kansas voters.
The Supreme Court issue will be decided during this year's general election on Aug. 4.