The Kansas Supreme Court struck down a law the legislature passed last year taking away its responsibility for selecting district court chief judges. We are among many who viewed that law as an attack on the Supreme Court and retaliation for school funding decisions.

“In a 43-page opinion in the case of Solomon v. Kansas written by Justice Eric Rosen, the court upheld a lower court decision that said the new law violates the separation of powers doctrine as well as Article 3 of the state constitution, which gives the Supreme Court ‘general administrative authority over all courts in this state.’

“That decision could put funding for the judicial branch in jeopardy because lawmakers passed a funding bill this year that includes what’s called a ‘nonseverability’ clause that says if the judicial selection law is overturned, all funding for the courts for the next two years also becomes null and void.

“The Kansas Supreme Court’s ruling Wednesday did not address the funding issue, which is the subject of a separate constitutional lawsuit pending in Shawnee County District Court. In September, a judge in Neosho County put the nonseverability clause on hold until March 15, giving lawmakers time to address it when they return for the 2016 session.”

Read more and find a link to the decision here: http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2015/dec/23/court-strikes-down-judicial-selection-law-putting-/