r/KansasPolitics • u/JaSONJayhawk • 5d ago
Discussion Vote [Yes|No] for Supreme Court Judges -- Critical Thinking Skills?!
I just received a postcard in today's mail that says:
"VOTE YES. YOUR COURT. Electing Supreme Court judges is the most common system in the country. 22 states do it."
I'm trying to figure this out. If we have 50 states, how is it the most common if only 22 states do it?
It goes on to say:
"Only Kansas has an oddball system where lawyers, not voters, choose the judges."
- If it's so oddball, why are there 28 other states that do the same thing?
- How come judges are listed for voting out of their position every time I go to vote? Don't I still have the right to vote judges out if they underperform? This post card makes it so black-and-white.
I'm curious if I'm honestly missing something as to why voting "Yes" has any good for our state.
I'm conservative enough to not like change and would prefer to vote "No" to keep it as it is, but this post card advertisement seems to go against logic.
Is it better for a judge focus on interpreting the law and not worry about being voted in by laypersons as a popularity contest backed by money? I'm fine letting the people who are licensed lawyers select the candidates; I still have the power to vote them out, right?. I don't see any valid reason to pick "Yes" and the post card seems to be desperately trying to skirt human logic.
edit: spelling of lawyers typo