Proposal on Impeaching Kansas Supreme Court Barely Advances

The Kansas Senate has barely approved a bill declaring that state Supreme Court justices can be impeached for attempting to usurp the Legislature’s power.

The vote Tuesday was 21-19 on a measure that outlines specific grounds for impeaching and removing justices. The bill goes next to the House.

Supporters said they’re further defining what the state constitution means when it allows justices to be impeached for “high crimes and misdemeanors.” The bill’s Republican backers in committee added a similar list of grounds for the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and secretary of state.

The chamber’s GOP supermajority split over the bill.

Critics said the measure attacks the court system’s independence. The Senate vote came less than six weeks after the justices ordered lawmakers to increase funding for poor school districts.