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Roeland Park's judicial change
Roeland Park finally got it right. Beginning next year, the municipal judge will be appointed by a special council committee and the mayor, rather than elected by voters. Roeland Park was the only second-class city in Kansas that elected its city judge, according to those who follow judicial issues.
The appointment of judges at all levels in Kansas, from the Supreme Court down, has proved to be successful in selection of qualified individuals for the bench.
This is no reflection on Roeland Park’s current municipal judge. But experience over the years shows that selection of judges on merit is far preferable to partisan, political considerations,
It is ironic, as Roeland Park joins the appointive ranks, that our nonpartisan court system in Johnson County is under attack. Voters will decide in November whether to continue to have members of the district court appointed. A nominating commission, named by county commissioners, interviews candidates for a court vacancy and recommends three individuals for appointment. The governor chooses one of them for the judgeship.
Of course the arrangement should be kept in place and Roeland Park deserves praise for joining the appointive system.
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The appointment of judges at all levels in Kansas, from the Supreme Court down, has proved to be successful in selection of qualified individuals for the bench.
This is no reflection on Roeland Park’s current municipal judge. But experience over the years shows that selection of judges on merit is far preferable to partisan, political considerations,
It is ironic, as Roeland Park joins the appointive ranks, that our nonpartisan court system in Johnson County is under attack. Voters will decide in November whether to continue to have members of the district court appointed. A nominating commission, named by county commissioners, interviews candidates for a court vacancy and recommends three individuals for appointment. The governor chooses one of them for the judgeship.
Of course the arrangement should be kept in place and Roeland Park deserves praise for joining the appointive system.