Kansas Supreme Court

Kansas voters will soon decide if they want to elect justices to the state’s highest court, instead of the current, merit-based nomination system. Some former justices worry direct elections could interfere with important decision-making.

An August constitutional amendment vote would change from merit-based nominations to electing Kansas Supreme Court justices. It would give voters the ability to directly pick Kansas Supreme Court justices, but critics say the ripple effects would be massive.

The Kansas Supreme Court chief justice announced the raises last week after the Legislature adjourned the 2026 session without appropriating money for them.

A Kansas bill would increase public information about the state officials who nominate justices for the state’s Supreme Court. Supporters say the commission helping select the most important judges in Kansas should be more transparent. It comes as a vote approaches changing how justices are selected.

The Democratic Kansas governor and Republican attorney general don’t always agree about suing or joining existing lawsuits. Now the Kansas Supreme Court could decide.

Kansas Legislature's leaders and elected state officers challenge Gov. Laura Kelly's perspective. The governor claims constitutional authority to "stand up for Kansans." The Kansas Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on Jan. 16.

Groundwater in western Kansas is a precious commodity. Hays and Russell are back in court to defend a plan to transfer water from a ranch in another county.

The Kansas Supreme Court’s decision to reject an appeal from Attorney General Kris Kobach allows the state to resume a process that had been in place for more than 20 years.

Federal Medicare and Medicaid regulations mandate staff vaccinations for employers that receive funding. But the high court ruled that Katlin Keeran was protected by a 2021 Kansas law making it illegal for employers to question the sincerity of religious beliefs for opting out of vaccines.

Those wanting merit-based selection of justices are keen to keep the status quo, while others seek to establish direct elections for justices.

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly tapped a Leawood attorney to fill a vacancy, at a time when conservatives want supreme court justices to be elected in the future.

Sherri Foster missed several months of rent in 2020, but the lease on her Prairie Village house included a late fee of $20 per day. The court ruled she owed fees for all 1,062 days between her first missed payment and the judgment date.