Constitution

WichitaLiberty.TV: Senator Jim DeMint and Convention of States

WichitaLiberty.TV: Senator Jim DeMint and Convention of States

In this episode of WichitaLiberty.TV: Former United States Senator Jim DeMint joins Karl Peterjohn and Bob Weeks to talk about the Convention of States. David Schneider, regional director for Citizens for Self-Governance also appears. View below, or click here to view at YouTube. Episode 175, broadcast December 9, 2017. Shownotes Jim DeMint on Facebook and Twitter Convention of States website, newly redesigned Citizens for Self-Governance Convention of States Kansas page on Facebook David Schneider's earlier appearance on WichitaLiberty.TV
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Briefs

Another Wichita Eagle publisher Wichita Business Journal: "McClatchy Co. spokeswoman Jeanne Segal told the Wichita Business Journal on Wednesday that Kelly Mirt has resigned and will rejoin his family in North Carolina. ... Mirt was announced as the Eagle's publisher and vice president of advertising in July. ... Mirt came to Wichita after the of former Eagle publisher Roy Heatherly in May. Mirt was the newspaper's sixth publisher since 2007." See Wichita Eagle publisher resigns, McClatchy says. The system is rigged against you Wichita Eagle Opinion Line, December 6, 2017: "Reading the article about Southeast High School has hardened my…
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Judge Melgren defends Constitutional protections

Judge Melgren defends Constitutional protections

By Karl Peterjohn While it has become increasingly common for members of the U.S. Supreme Court to make news by public comments, particularly during their summer recess, Wichita Pachyderm Club members had the opportunity for Kansas federal district Judge Eric F. Melgren to quote from his judicial colleagues in a way of defending the Constitution's concept of the separation of powers. Judge Melgren cited various appellate court rulings, particularly as they related to the largely little known Chevron decision, that damages that constitutional protection at his July 21 speech in Wichita. Judge Melgren, a former member of this club before…
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WichitaLiberty.TV: David Schneider on Convention of States

WichitaLiberty.TV: David Schneider on Convention of States

In this episode of WichitaLiberty.TV: David Schneider of Citizens for Self-Governance joins Bob Weeks and Karl Peterjohn to explain the Convention of States project. View below, or click here to view at YouTube. Episode 154, broadcast June 18, 2017 Shownotes Convention of States Convention of States on Facebook (1,084,689 people like this) Citizens for Self-Governance
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In Kansas, the war on blight continues

In Kansas, the war on blight continues

Kansas governments are trying -- again -- to expand their powers to take property to the detriment of one of the fundamental rights of citizens: private property rights. Last year cities in Kansas lobbied for a bill that would expand their powers to take property from its lawful owners, all in the name of saving neighborhoods from "blight." Governor Brownback vetoed that bill, explaining, "The right to private property serves as a central pillar of the American constitutional tradition."[1. Weeks, Bob. Governor Brownback steps up for property rights. https://wichitaliberty.org/kansas-government/governor-brownback-steps-property-rights/.] The governor further explained: "The broad definition of blighted or abandoned…
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Wichita Eagle opinion watch

Another nonsensical editorial from the Wichita Eagle. This is contained in an editorial urging Sedgwick County government to "stop messing" with the zoo.[1. Holman, Rhonda. Stop messing with Sedgwick County Zoo. Wichita Eagle, July 20, 2016. Available at www.kansas.com/opinion/editorials/article90624332.html.] Nor is there any justification for a “non-disparagement clause” in the proposed operating agreement about the zoo director’s public statements, including a prohibition against doing anything to bring the county or society “unwanted or unfavorable publicity.” Even if the county is right -- and the society wrong -- about the constitutionality of such a gag rule on a public employee, it’s…
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Kansas Supreme Court: Making law, part 3

Kansas Supreme Court: Making law, part 3

Do the justices on the Kansas Supreme Court make new law? Yes, and here is another example. A paper by Kansas University School of Law Professor Stephen J. Ware explains the problem with the undemocratic method of judicial selection process used in Kansas.[1. Ware, Stephen J. Originalism, Balanced Legal Realism and Judicial Selection: A Case Study. Available at papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2129265.] The question is whether judges are simply arbitrators of the law, or do they actually participate in the lawmaking process? In his paper, Ware presents eleven examples of judges on the two highest Kansas courts engaging in lawmaking. Here, Ware explains…
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Kansas Supreme Court: Making law, part 2

Kansas Supreme Court: Making law, part 2

Do the justices on the Kansas Supreme Court make new law? Yes, and here is an example. A paper by Kansas University School of Law Professor Stephen J. Ware explains the problem with the undemocratic method of judicial selection process used in Kansas.[1. Ware, Stephen J. Originalism, Balanced Legal Realism and Judicial Selection: A Case Study. Available at papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2129265.] The question is whether judges are simply arbitrators of the law, or do they actually participate in the lawmaking process? In his paper, Ware presents eleven examples of judges on the two highest Kansas courts engaging in lawmaking. Here, Ware explains…
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Kansas Supreme Court: Selecting Judges

Kansas Supreme Court: Selecting Judges

While many believe that judges should not "legislate from the bench," that is, make law themselves, the reality is that lawmaking is a judicial function. A paper by Kansas University School of Law Professor Stephen J. Ware explains the problem with the undemocratic method of judicial selection process used in Kansas.[1. Ware, Stephen J. Originalism, Balanced Legal Realism and Judicial Selection: A Case Study. Available at papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2129265.] At issue is whether judges are simply arbitrators of the law, or do they actually participate in the lawmaking process. Ware presents eleven examples of judges on the two highest Kansas courts engaging…
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