The ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee says plans to ask Gov. Sam Brownback’s nominee to the Kansas Court of Appeals how the courts can remain independent under the new judicial selection process.

Sen. David Haley of Kansas City says he doesn’t have any predetermined opinions about the choice of Caleb Stegall to fill a vacancy on the court. Haley says the two have only exchanged greetings in the Statehouse but never had conversations of any substance.

Haley says he wants to know how Stegall’s financial and political ties to Brownback may influence Stegall’s rulings on cases. Haley says those concerns factored into his opposition to the changes in the judicial nominating process legislators approved this spring.