1. United States
2. Kan.
3. Letter

I am writing to express my strong opposition to Senate Concurrent Resolution 1611 (SCR 1611), which seeks to replace Kansas' merit-based judicial selection system with partisan elections. This change would undermine judicial independence, increase political influence over the courts, and erode public trust in our judiciary. Kansas adopted its current system in 1958 to prevent political corruption in judicial appointments. By ensuring justices are selected based on qualifications rather than party affiliation, the merit-based process keeps our courts impartial. Shifting to partisan elections would force judicial candidates to raise campaign funds and align with political interests, as seen in other states where costly elections have introduced bias into judicial decision-making. Wisconsin’s 2023 Supreme Court race saw over $51 million spent on a single election, demonstrating how money can distort judicial independence. Kansas should not follow this path. Our courts must remain fair, neutral, and focused on upholding the law, not political agendas. I urge you to oppose SCR 1611 and protect the integrity of our judicial system. Thank you for your time and consideration.