District Courts

Approximately half of the Kansas District Court Judges are elected by the people and stand for competitive reelection every four years. Unfortunately, the other half of the District Court Judges are appointed by the Governor, as are Supreme Court and Court of Appeals judges, and then stand for only a non-competitive retention vote every four years.

The appointed judges have less accountability to the people of Kansas than the elected judges, and the appointed judges are the product of a small group with highly political motives, as opposed to the general voter public.

The Judicial system, generally, is as political in nature as the other two branches of government. It always has been, always will be. Therefore, Kansas Judicial Review recommends that the people convert all judge and justice positions to competitive elections in order to ensure greater accountability to the people of Kansas and thereby greater fidelity to the state and federal constitutions.

Kansas Judicial Review Judge Recommendations

Court of Appeals

No primary election activity for seats on the Supreme Court in 2006. KJR recommends the voters in the November general election:

Retain:

Not Retain:

District Court

In the 2006 election, KJR recommends:

Sedgwick County

Butler County

Johnson County