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Minutes for SCR1611 - Committee on Federal and State Affairs
Short Title
Proposing a constitutional amendment to provide for direct election of supreme court justices and abolish the supreme court nominating commission.
Minutes Content for Tue, Feb 25, 2025
Jason Long, Revisor of Statute gave a summary of the resolution. (Attachment 1)
Proponent Testimony
In-Person
Senator Ty Masterson, President of the Senate (Attachment 2)
Kris Kobach, Kansas Attorney General (Attachment 3)
Anthony Powell, Kansas Solicitor General (Attachment 4)
Webex
Honorary Robert Edmunds, Former Associate North Carolina Supreme Court Justice (Attachment 5)
Honorary Clark Owens, Retired District Judge (Attachment 6)
In-Person
Scott Blackburn, Americans for Prosperity (Attachment 7)
Josh Ney, Kriegshauer Ney Law Firm (Attachment 8)
Written Only
Steve Brunk, City Elders of KS and Retired Rep from District 85 (Attachment 9)
Nick Reinecker, Private Citizen (Attachment 10)
Honorary Kevin M. Smith (Attachment 11)
Honorary Charles M. Hart (Attachment 12)
Tanner Tempel, Deputy State Director, Americans for Prosperity (Attachment 13)
James Franco, KPI President (Attachment 14)
Eric Stafford, KS Chamber (Attachment 15)
Tammy Minihan, Sedgwick County Committeewoman (Attachment 16)
Gloria Bayer, Sedgwick County Committeewoman (Attachment 17)
Brett Anderson, Sedgwick County Committeeman (Attachment 18)
Jamie Kissinger, Precinct 526 Committeewoman (Attachment 19)
Kari Sue Vosburgh, Private Citizen (Attachment 20)
Dale Enyart, Private Citizen (Attachment 21)
Mary Strang, Private Citizen (Attachment 22)
Patricia DeDamons, Private Citizen (Attachment 23)
Opponent Testimony
In-Person
Fred Logan, KS Bar Association (Attachment 24)
Anne Kindling on behalf of Samantha Woods, KS Association of Defense Council (Attachment 25)
Blake Shuart, Private Citizen and on behalf of Hutton and Hutton, Shamburg, Johnson and Bergman (Attachment 26)
Nicole Revenaugh, Women Attorneys Association for Freedom (Attachment 27)
Rashane Hamby, UCLA of KS (Attachment 28)
David Morantz, on behalf of the KS Trial Association (Attachment 29)
Written Only
Mike Fonkert, Deputy Director, KS Appleseed Center for Law and Justice (Attachment 30)
Carly DuVall Le Riche, Private Citizen (Attachment 31)
Ron Hobert, President AFT KS (Attachment 32)
Sarah LaFrenz, KS Organization of State Employees (Attachment 33)
Rabbi Moti Rieber, KS Interfaith Action (Attachment 34)
Mandi Hunter, Johnson County Bar Association (Attachment 35)
Kathy Webb, Women for KS (Attachment 36)
Taylor Morton, Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes (Attachment 37)
Davis Hammet, Loud Light Civic Action (Attachment 38)
Ashley Billam, KS Womens Attorneys Association (Attachment 39)
Leah Fliter, Kansas Association of School Boards (Attachment 40)
Michelle Moe Witte, Wichita Bar Association (Attachment 41)
Marjorie Van Buren, Private Citizen (Attachment 42)
Rand Simmons, Private Citizen and Attorney (Attachment 43)
Melinda Lewis, Private Citizen (Attachment 44)
Itzel Vargas, Private Citizen (Attachment 45)
Neutral Testimony
Clay L. Barker, Deputy Secretary of State (Attachment 46)
Questions and discussion ensued.
Chairman Thompson closed the hearing on SCR1611 at 11:51AM.
Chairman Thompson adjourned the meeting at 11:52AM.
