On Jan. 28, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly signed Executive Order 20-01, establishing the Court of Appeals Nominating Commission. Similar to the Supreme Court Nominating Commission, the Court of Appeals Nominating Commission will be composed of nine Kansans — five legal professionals and four public members.

The commissioners should represent diverse, bipartisan and geographically balanced backgrounds. The Commission will be charged with vetting and recommending applicants for Court of Appeals vacancies prior to the Governor submitting an appointment to the Senate for confirmation. Governor Kelly has also appointed Linda Parks of Wichita, to serve as chair of the Commission.

“In Kansas we appoint judges not because of who they know or what they believe, but because of their merit,” Kelly said.“That means our judges have proven their character, their understanding of the law, and their commitment to the cause of justice. Nonpartisan, merit-based selection has served the state well. The Court of Appeals Nominating Commission will continue those efforts, and I am confident that the nominees it selects for my consideration will represent the best Kansas has to offer.”

Under Kansas law, the Governor appoints judges to the Court of Appeals subject to confirmation by the Senate. This executive order does not change that process and is consistent with that law. The order establishes a uniform method for the Governor’s appointments to the Court of Appeals and empowers an independent, nonpartisan group of both lawyers and nonlawyers to select finalists for appointment by the Governor according to merit.

The Commission will begin working immediately to select three nominees to fill the vacancy that will be created by the April 3 retirement of Judge G. Joseph Pierron Jr.

Additional applicants for the Court of Appeals vacancy should contact JudicialApplications@ks.gov for details on submitting application materials. The Commission will accept applications through Feb. 7.