Kansas Supreme Court Archives - Page 11 of 12 Voice For Liberty

Jan

Analysis: The Sebelius Court

Somehow, notice of a few things slipped by. First is the excellent Kansas Supreme Court Blog. I don't know who is writing this blog, but it contains a great deal of information about its narrow topic. Second: From this blog I learned that the lawyer that Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius recently appointed to the Kansas Supreme Court was the "architect of the Montoy case." That case is often referred to simply as the Kansas school finance lawsuit. Third, I also learned from this blog that "for the first time in its history a majority of the Justices of the Supreme…

Jan

By Bob Weeks

Here’s Why Kansans Need to Take Control

As an introduction to my post What Impact do Kansas Voters Have on Judges?, Todd Epp of Kansas Watch writes "Um, this lawyer suggests, hopefully none?!" My post mentions Kansas University Law Professor Stephen Ware's call for an end to the lawyer-dominated process of selection Kansas judges. Mr. Epp's reaction -- and he is a lawyer -- should strengthen the resolve of Kansans to take control of this process away from lawyers and their narrow self-interest.

Jan

By Bob Weeks

What impact do Kansas voters have on judges?

Recently a Kansas blog covered a political event and wrote this in a post titled Defending America Summit Brought out the Wingnuts: Stephen Ware, Professor at the University of Kansas Law School: "What’s unusual about Kansas is about how little the people’s wishes matter. There are no checks and balances in the judicial selection process." ********. It's called a retention voted [sic]. Don't like Justice Dan Biles? Vote him out in a year. And, hey, aren't all professors supposed to be crazy liberals? I asked Mr. Ware about the value of retention votes in giving a voice to the people.…

Jun

By Bob Weeks

Socialism And Big Government Expand In Kansas

By Karl Peterjohn, Kansas Taxpayers Network State owned and operated casinos are constitutional and permissible in Kansas. The extremely activist and left-wing Kansas Supreme Court unanimously ruled June 27 that state owned and operated casinos were legal in Kansas. For many statehouse observers this wasn’t a surprise. The Kansas Supreme Court is dominated by liberal Democrats with three of its seven members having been appointed by Governor Sebelius. Since there has never been any statewide votes by Kansans authorizing a change in the Kansas Constitution to authorize state owned casinos. The Kansas top court has ruled that under the provisions…

Aug

By Bob Weeks

Whitewash

Writing from Dallas, Texas Thank you to Karl Peterjohn for this excellent piece. You can read more about the Kansas Supreme Court at this link: Summary of Blogging on Judicial Ethics in Kansas Whitewash By Karl Peterjohn, Executive Director, Kansas Taxpayers Network There are laws and rules while there are lawyers and judges but there is truly one unique and privileged class where the rules do not apply in Kansas: The Kansas Supreme Court. Friday, August 18 the "ethics" panel that handles ethics complaints issued their weakest penalty of an "admonishment" for the egregious misbehavior of Kansas Supreme Court Justice…

May

By Bob Weeks

Judicial Scandal Grows

Judicial Scandal Grows As $3 Billion Public School Spending Bill Advances By Karl Peterjohn, Kansas Taxpayers Network, www.kansastaxpayers.com The Kansas legislature's school spending spree is racing the latest developments in the judicial-legislative misconduct scandal over school finance in Kansas. The outcome of this race could influence the size of the spending spree going on at the Kansas statehouse right now. The latest revelations on the school finance scandal brings the governor into the story. Senate President Steve Morris has now informed at least some in the statehouse press that he told the governor about his meeting with Supreme Court Justice…

Mar

By Bob Weeks

State of Kansas vs. Students

Thank you to Karl Peterjohn, Kansas Taxpayers Network, for this fine article. It would be a different matter if all this spending produced results. There is no reason to believe that increased spending on schools will do much to improve the lot of the average Kansas child. Sadly, this increased spending lets politicians, education bureaucrats, and school boards claim victory "for the children." The needed reforms are put off for another year. Alan Rupe, have you no shame? Do you really believe you are doing the right thing for Kansas children, or are you only looking to earn a legal…

Jun

By Bob Weeks

The cthics case against Justice Donald L. Allegrucci

I have filed an ethics complaint against Kansas Supreme Court Justice Donald L. Allegrucci. This complaint is on the agenda of the July 1, 2005 meeting of the Kansas Commission on Judicial Qualifications. I happen to disagree with the ruling the Kansas Supreme Court made in the case cited in my complaint. I have been asked whether I would have filed the same complaint if I had agreed with the court's ruling. The answer to that question is probably not. My level of interest would probably not be what it is. That troubles me, as we as citizens need to…

Jun

By Bob Weeks

Disgraceful decision will hurt Kansas

This is a reprise of a January 10, 2005 column, which is worthwhile to read again. Disgraceful Decision Will Hurt Kansasby Karl Peterjohn, Executive Director, Kansas Taxpayers Network The Kansas Supreme Court's school finance decision is deeply flawed both in substance and in procedure. This five page judicial edict (www.kscourts.org see case no. 92,032) announced January 3 is designed to pressure the legislature into voting for more spending for public schools without saying by how much. Many tax and spend advocates are now claiming the court is requiring a tax hike, but no such specific language is contained within this…

May

By Bob Weeks

Ethics Require Two Recusals In School Finance Lawsuit

Thank you to Karl Peterjohn for your insight into the ethical mess that is our Kansas Supreme Court. Ethics Require Two Recusals In School Finance LawsuitBy Karl Peterjohn, Executive Director Kansas Taxpayers Network Would you want to go to court and face a judge who used to serve as legal counsel for your courtroom opponent? That is one of the ethics challenges facing the state in trying to fight off the $1 billion school finance lawsuit in front of the Kansas Supreme Court. This court heard oral arguments again May 11 in this case. There are 15 school districts spending…