An open letter from many of the past presidents of the Kansas Bar Association:

Kansans have a right to expect their judges to be independent and not obligated to any person, religion or organization when deciding cases. In 1957, we enshrined that ideal in the state Constitution by providing for an independent nominating commission to evaluate the qualifications of candidates for our Supreme Court. Until this year the same process was used for our Court of Appeals. The objective is to provide the governor with only well-qualified individuals from whom to choose a new appellate jurist.

Unfortunately, Governor Brownback has repeatedly shown his determination to sidestep that ideal and to make the appellate courts subservient to the whim of the governor. When the legislature repealed use of the nominating commission for the Court of Appeals, Governor Brownback was quick to sign the bill into law.

As past presidents of the Kansas Bar Association, we feel we should be able to trust a lawyer like Sam Brownback — the head of the executive branch in Kansas — to respect the importance of an independent and co-equal judiciary. But to the contrary, we are alarmed at the erosion of judicial independence.

We are also concerned about the woefully inadequate funding of the judicial branch of our government that has been promoted under Governor Brownback. This has resulted in court closings and an interruption of the administration of justice for our citizens.

Although we represent a wide range of political affiliations and we do not speak for the Kansas Bar Association or its members, we know from past experience that Paul Davis understands and appreciates that there are three co-equal branches of government. We are confident that he will halt attempts to control the independent courts from the governor’s office.

We therefore support Paul Davis in his candidacy for governor because we believe it is vital to the citizens of Kansas to have judges and justices who are free to decide disputes based on the law as applied to the facts, and not on personal ideology.

Sara Beezley, Girard
Jim Bush, Overland Park
Mike Crow, Leavenworth
Jack Focht, Wichita
Jerry Goodell, Topeka
Rich Hayse, Topeka
Christel Marquardt, Topeka
Linda Parks, Wichita
Rachael Pirner, Wichita
Dave Rebein, Dodge City
Zack Reynolds, Fort Scott
Bill Swearer, Hutchinson
John Vratil, Overland Park
Tom Wright, Topeka