But Davis is accusing the Republican incumbent of trying to exploit a high-profile Wichita murder case to boost his re-election chances.

The confrontation came during their fourth and final debate. Also Tuesday, Brownback’s campaign released a television ad referencing brothers Reginald and Jonathan Carr, whose death sentences for a quadruple homicide were vacated by the state Supreme Court in July.

Brownback has long sought more power to directly appoint justices rather than use a longstanding merit system in which a committee comprised of lawyers and members of the public send up suggestions.

Davis says he believes the governor doesn’t need more control over judicial selection.