Appellate cases put political spotlight on Kansas judges

Two cases headed to Kansas appellate courts next week are expected to put the judges in a political spotlight that could have an impact on their careers.

All 14 judges of the Kansas Court of Appeals on Wednesday will hear the state’s appeal of a lower court ruling striking down a new abortion law. The next day the state Supreme Court will consider a case regarding the court’s own power to supervise lower courts.

The Lawrence Journal-World (http://bit.ly/1Iy0CGy) reports a majority of the jurists will be up for retention votes next year.

Some experts are predicting those elections will draw a flood of money from outside interest groups seeking to change the makeup of those courts.

Last year Gov. Sam Brownback campaigned against the retention of two Supreme Court justices.


Information from: Lawrence (Kan.) Journal-World, http://www.ljworld.com.