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Re: Reproductive rights, the Kansas Governor, the Kansas Supreme Court, and the 2022 elections
Repost from the General Discussion forum
As we all know, the governor of Kansas is up for re-election this year. Also, several Justices on the state supreme court are also facing a retention election.
It appears to me that the state supreme court and Governor Kelly are the reasons the overwhelmingly-GOP controlled state legislature is not ramming through an abortion ban right now.
My understanding is that the state court's decision of abortion rights being in the state constitution was made with Democratic appointees in the majority. That decision was 6-1 on a Court composed of four Democratic appointees and three Republican appointees. Two Republican appointees were convinced that abortion rights were protected in the state constitution. The lone dissenter on the abortion decision was an appointee of Sam Brownback (remember that shithead?). If I recall correctly, his dissent was something like "blah blah blah originalism."
Currently, I believe five of the seven current Justices on the Kansas Supreme Court were appointed by Democratic governors. Of those five, Governor Kelly has appointed three Justices to the state supreme court. Four of these five Democratic appointees face retention elections this year, and that includes all of Governor Kelly's three appointees.
This year's election in Kansas is a battle on multiple fronts for abortion rights. Not only should Governor Kelly be re-elected for the sanity of Kansas and abortion rights, but her supreme court appointees, among other Justices, should be retained because her appointees will protect abortion rights and keep them enshrined in the state's constitution.
- Justice Daniel Biles, appointed by Governor Sebelius (D), is facing a retention election this year. Justice Biles voted to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution.
- Justice Evelyn Wilson, appointed by Governor Kelly, is facing a retention election this year. I believe Justice Wilson was appointed to a lower court by Governor Sebelius also.
- Justice K. J. Wall, appointed by Governor Kelly, is facing a retention election this year.
- Justice Melissa Standridge, appointed by Governor Kelly, is facing a retention election this year. When Justice Standridge was on the Court of Appeals, she ruled in favor of a constitutional protection for abortion rights years before the state Supreme Court did.
- Justice Evelyn Wilson, appointed by Governor Kelly, is facing a retention election this year. I believe Justice Wilson was appointed to a lower court by Governor Sebelius also.
- Justice K. J. Wall, appointed by Governor Kelly, is facing a retention election this year.
- Justice Melissa Standridge, appointed by Governor Kelly, is facing a retention election this year. When Justice Standridge was on the Court of Appeals, she ruled in favor of a constitutional protection for abortion rights years before the state Supreme Court did.
Although Governor Kelly can win re-election, if for whatever she doesn't win re-election, her appointees can be retained and abortion rights can remain protected.
Additionally, Sam Brownback's appointee Justice Caleb Stegall was the lone dissenter in the abortion ruling, and he is also facing a retention election this year. Governor Laura Kelly can win re-election, Justice Stegall can lose his retention election, and Governor Kelly can appoint his replacement. That would be a sweet delicious gift to the people of Kansas. -chef's kiss-
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