Tuesday Topics
Proposed Amendment to Abolish Merit-Based Judge Selection
Tuesday, February 24
6:00pm - 7:00pm
Advanced Learning Library
Conference CenterGloria Farha Flentje Focht will present a talk about SCR 1611, a measure which will be on the ballot in August 2026 to change the selection of Kansas Supreme Court Judges to a direct election.
In Kansas, judges for the Kansas Supreme Court and Court of Appeals are appointed using a merit selection process. These appointments are done by the Supreme Court Nominating Commission (SCNC), which is composed of 9 members. This nonpartisan nominating commission is made up of lawyers and nonlawyers from around the state and the nominating process includes a rigorous investigation into a judge's background, education, professional experience, and more.
SCR 1611 will be put on the ballot in August 2026 for a vote of the people. If passed with a simple majority, elections for the Kansas Supreme Court would begin in 2028, and Kansas would join other states that use direct elections for their state supreme courts.
The amendment would mean that justices would be elected by popular vote for six-year terms through staggered elections beginning in 2028.
About the speaker:
Gloria Farha Flentje Focht is the immediate past chair of the Kansas Supreme Court Nominating Committee, a past president for the Wichita Bar Association and a longtime community leader for the Wichita area.
AGE GROUP: | Adults |
EVENT TYPE: | Community Engagement | Adult |
Advanced Learning Library
The Advanced Learning Library, located centrally in the historic Delano neighborhood, has many specialty services and collections including the Maker Space and AV Studio, local history and genealogy collections, and the Friends of the Wichita Public Library used bookstore.