Over the years, this nine-member panel that largely works in obscurity has been the subject of hot debate in the Kansas Legislature.
Next week, the panel will convene again to recommend three possible replacements to replace Justice Evelyn Wilson, who is retiring after being diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease.
The panel will choose three from among 15 candidates who have applied for the position, and the governor will appoint someone to fill the vacancy.
The panel will meet in the shadow of a constitutional amendment that will be on the ballot in August 2026.
If approved, the amendment will abolish the commission in favor of electing justices to the Kansas Supreme Court.
Supporters say the Supreme Court Nominating Commission, made up of five lawyers and four nonlawyers, is a transparent method for picking the most qualified judges.
The members of the commission serve four-year terms.
The five lawyers are elected by their peers, and the four nonlawyers are appointed by the governor.
Of the four nonlawyers, all were appointed by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, although at one point several years ago most of them were appointed by former Gov. Sam Brownback.
Critics say the process is undemocratic, handing a vast amount of power to a group of people – lawyers – who are not elected and tend to pick judges who lean left.
Regardless of where you come down in that debate — which is taking on new life with the approaching political campaign over the amendment — here is a look at who sits on that commission and a little about their backgrounds.
Lawyer members
Gloria Farha Flentje
Wichita
Chair of the commission
Term expires 2025
Career/Education: Earned bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and international relations from the University of Kansas in 1965 and then earned her law degree from Southern Illinois University. Flentje is a longtime Kansas lawyer who has represented Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems. Flentje became senior vice president of corporate administration and human resources of Spirit Holdings in April 2008 and served as vice president, general counsel and secretary of Spirit from the date it was acquired by Boeing. Before joining Boeing, she was a partner in the Foulston Siefkin law firm where she represented numerous clients, including Boeing, on employment and labor matters and school law issues. She later became the lead counsel for Boeing and eventually became senior vice president for Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita. She was the first female president of the Wichita Bar Association.
Politics: Flentje donated to Democrat Paul Davis’ campaign for governor as well as Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. She also made donations to Democrat Chris Mann in the 2022 attorney general’s race as well as former Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. She has donated to Democratic state Sen. Patrick Schmidt of Topeka when he lost his bid for Congress in 2022 and former state Sen. Barbara Bollier’s failed campaign for the U.S. Senate in 2020. She also donated to Republican U.S. Sen Pat Roberts and former Democratic state Rep. Raj Goyle’s unsuccessful congressional campaign in 2010.
Robert J. Frederick
Lakin
1st Congressional District
Term expires 2026
Career/Education: Served as the chief judge in 25th Judicial District before joining the Kennedy Berkley law firm in Salina in 2021. His practice emphasizes commercial mediation and arbitration cases and is based in Garden City. He also sat with the Kansas Court of Appeals, assigned to 17 cases in 2018, which were argued and decided from October through December of that year. His case experience includes real estate, oil and gas, commercial, corporate, criminal, family law, estate planning and probate, and school law. Before becoming a judge, he served as county attorney in Kearny County, as Deerfield city attorney, and as an attorney for the Lakin public school district. He has a bachelor’s from the University of Kansas and a law degree from Washburn University.
Political: He was appointed to the bench in 2001 by Republican Gov Bill Graves. Former Chief Justice Lawton Nuss named Frederick as chief judge of the 25th District. He was retained with 74% of the vote in 2010 and 75% of the vote in 2014.
Jennifer M. Cocking
Emporia
2nd Congressional District
Term expires 2027
Career/education: First vice president and assistant general counsel for Capitol Federal Savings Bank. She also served as past president of the Women Attorneys Association of Topeka, chair of the Kansas Continuing Legal Education Board, and member of the Washburn University Alumni Association board of directors, as well as volunteering with the Kansas Women Attorneys Association, according to TK Business Magazine.
Political: Contributed to Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly in 2018. She also contributed to Republican Steven Johnson’s campaign for state treasurer. She also contributed to the Kansas Bankers Association political action committee.
Katie McClaflin
Overland Park
3rd Congressional District
Term expires 2028
Career/education: Graduated with distinction from the University of Kansas in 2002 with a bachelor’s in social work. She earned her law degree from KU as well. Her practice focuses on complex divorce matters, as well as drafting and litigating premarital and postnuptial agreements. She also represents clients in business disputes. She is the past president of the Johnson County Bar Association. She represents Johnson County on the Kansas Bar Association Board of Governors.
Political: Made a $50 contribution in 2019 to ActBlue that was earmarked for Democrat Barry Grissom’s unsuccessful campaign for U.S. Senate.
Thomas J. Lasater
Wichita
4th Congressional District
Term expires 2025
Career/education: Lasater practices at the Wichita firm of Fleeson Gooing and handles civil litigation, commercial transactions, bankruptcy, real estate and business law. He is a member of the firm’s executive committee. He received a bachelor’s in economics from West Texas State University and a law degree from George Washington University in 1982. Lasater practices primarily in the areas of civil litigation, commercial transactions, bankruptcy, real estate and business law. He lost a bid for reelection to the nominating commission. He will be replaced by Wichita lawyer Rachael Pirner on July 1.
Political: Contributed $50 to Democratic state Rep. Jim Ward in 2014.
Nonlawyer members
Diane Oakes
Lawrence
1st Congressional District
Appointed by Gov. Laura Kelly
Terms expires 2026
Career/education: Owner of A Better Way Mediation Services, which is approved by the Kansas Supreme Court to provide domestic mediation services in an effort to help parents develop strategies for co-parenting their children. Chief executive officer for Girl Scouts of Kaw Valley Council. During her time there, she led negotiations resulting in a corporate merger of three Girl Scout Councils in Kansas and Missouri. She has a bachelor’s in general studies from Wichita State University with a concentration in history and English. She has a master’s in liberal studies and an interdisciplinary degree in women’s studies, history and education from Wichita State University.
Political: Donated previously to Gov. Laura Kelly and Democratic state Sen. Marci Francisco’s unsuccessful campaign for state treasurer in 2018. She also donated to Democrat Paul Davis’ campaign for governor in 2013.
Frances Gorman Graves
Bartlett
2nd Congressional District
Appointed by Gov. Laura Kelly
Term expires 2027
Career/education: Graves is currently the leadership program manager and facilitator for Kansas Agricultural and Rural Leadership, according to her LinkedIn profile. She was previously the Wildcat district director and community vitality agent for K-State Research and Extension. And before that, she worked as the assistant to the director of the Parsons Area Community Foundation. Graves previously worked as the senior media researcher for Synoptos from 2012 to 2015. She also was an adjunct instructor at Labette Community College in Parsons from 2009 to 2012 and a communications coordinator at the University of Kansas School of Business from 2008 to 2009. She was director of strategic communications for the Kansas attorney general’s office from 2007 to 2008.
Politics: Former communications director of the Kansas Democratic Party from 2004 to 2007. Also served as treasurer of the Kansas Moderate Majority political action committee, which was terminated in 2014.
Carol Marinovich
Kansas City
3rd Congressional District
Appointed by Gov. Laura Kelly
Career/education: Marinovich was the first woman elected to the city council of Kansas City, Kansas, in 1989 and the first woman elected as the mayor of Kansas City, Kansas, in 1995. Marinovich received a bachelor’s in elementary education from St. Mary’s College in 1972 and a master’s in education in 1980. She worked as an educator in the Kansas City, Kansas, school district from 1972 to 1982, and as special education coordinator from 1982 to 1995.
Political: Marinovich ran for mayor of Kansas City, Kansas against 12 other candidates, winning the seat in 1995. For the first two years as mayor, Marinovich lobbied in Topeka for consolidating the Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas governments, which was later approved by voters. Marinovich was voted the first mayor and chief executive of the Unified Government, a position she held until 2005. Marinovich remained mayor and CEO until 2005, after which she became partner and vice president of Fleishman-Hillard, Inc., a public relations firm. Over the years, she has contributed to Democrat Paul Davis as well as as Gov. Laura Kelly and former Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.
Ebony S. Clemons
Wichita
4th Congressional District
Appointed by Gov. Laura Kelly
Term expires 2025
Career/education: She is the economic development manager for Evergy. She is responsible for leading economic development efforts within the Evergy Kansas Central service area. She previously worked in business development for Wells Fargo Bank. She has a dual degree in political science and psychology from Kansas State University and a master’s in business law from Friends University.
Political: Donated $100 to former Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer’s campaign for governor as a Democrat. She’s also donated to the Evergy Employer Power political action committee.
