Finalists for Kansas Supreme Court vacancy willing to stand for election if amendment passes

[RandySF]

TOPEKA — Johnson County District Judge Robert Wonnell gave thought when applying for a vacancy on the Kansas Supreme Court to the proposed constitutional amendment that could transform the selection of justices serving on the state’s highest court.

He said no one should expect him to transform into a foot-stomping candidate eager to battle rivals with attack ads and make promises about the outcome of issues before the court.

“If I were selected to serve on the Supreme Court, and if the process were to change, I don’t know that I am capable or could become a political animal,” he said.

The amendment on the Aug. 4 ballot would erase the current merit-selection system in place since 1958. The process has relied on a nine-member Supreme Court Nominating Commission to interview applicants and submit a list of finalists to governors. The existing approach in Kansas requires Supreme Court justices to stand for retention after serving one year on the bench. If a majority of votes are cast to retain a justice, that individual remains for a term of six years.



https://kansasreflector.com/2026/06/03/finalists-for-kansas-supreme-court-vacancy-willing-to-stand-for-election-if-amendment-passes/