Kansas Senate confirms Kelly nominee to Court of Appeals

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Senate has confirmed Gov. Laura Kelly’s nomination of a Kansas City-area attorney to the state’s second-highest court.

The vote Wednesday was 37-1 for Sarah Warner of Lenexa to be Court of Appeals judge.

The Democratic governor submitted Warner’s name to the Republican-controlled Senate after it rejected Labette County District Judge Jeffry Jack’s nomination over his political tweets in 2017.

Kelly tried to withdraw Jack’s nomination in March and touched off a legal battle. The Kansas Supreme Court ruledKelly could not legally withdraw the nomination.

Warner is a partner in a Lawrence law firm that has defended state abortion restrictions. Kelly supports abortion rights.

The only no vote came from independent Sen. John Doll of Garden City. He has been protesting a lack of appointees from western Kansas.