Over the years, this nine-member panel that largely works in obscurity has been the subject of hot debate in the Kansas Legislature.
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 five lawyers are elected by their peers and the four nonlawyers are appointed by the governor. Of the four nonlawyers, three were appointed by former Republican Gov. Sam Brownback and one was appointed by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly.
Critics say the process is undemocratic, handing a vast amount of power to a group of people who are not elected and tend to pick judges who lean left.
Regardless of where you come down in that debate — which is likely to take on new life next legislative session — here is a look at who sits on that commission and a little about their backgrounds.
Next year, lawmakers are expected to take up a constitutional amendment that would do away with the nominating commission and turn the Supreme Court appointments over to the governor with confirmation by the state Senate.
Lawyer members
Mikel Stout
Wichita
Chair of the commission
Elected by lawyers statewide
Term expires 2021
Career/Education: A commercial litigation attorney at the Foulston Siefkin law firm in Wichita. His practice areas include employment and labor law, environmental law and mediation-dispute resolution. He’s served as president of the American College of Trial Lawyers. He earned his bachelor’s at Kansas State University in 1958. He graduated from the University of Kansas Law School in 1961.
Politics: A frequent contributor over the years, he’s donated to Sens. Jerry Moran and Pat Roberts, former U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan and former Congressman Mike Pompeo. He also gave to Gov. Laura Kelly, and former congressional and gubernatorial candidate Paul Davis, among others.
Gerald O. Schultz
Garden City
Elected by lawyers in 1st Congressional District
Term expires 2022
Career/Education: Graduated from Ottawa University with a bachelor’s degree in 1981 and a law degree from Washburn University in 1984. He founded Schultz Law Office in Garden City. Specializes in personal injury accidents and workers’ compensation. He represents multiple financial institutions, insurance companies and large businesses.
Politics: Has contributed to U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts and state Reps. Don Hineman and Russ Jennings among others over the years.
Terrence Campbell
Lawrence
Elected by lawyers in 2nd Congressional District
Term expires 2023
Career/Education: He works at the Lawrence law firm Barber Emerson, where he specializes in criminal defense law and general litigation. He graduated in 1997 with a law degree from the University of Kansas. He clerked two years for U.S. District Judge John W. Lungstrum. He also worked part-time as a traffic judge for the Douglas County District Court. In 2001, he worked as an adjunct professor at the KU law school. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn. He earned his law degree from the University of Kansas.
Politics: Nominated for the federal bench by former President Barack Obama, although he later withdrew his name for consideration when confirmation appeared doubtful. In the past, he has donated to Democrat Paul Davis’ campaign for governor and Republican Attorney General Derek Schmidt.
Lenin V. Guerra
Olathe
Elected by lawyers in the 3rd Congressional District
Term expires 2020
Career/Education: Martindale-Hubbell’s database shows that Guerra is a 1994 graduate of Park University with a bachelor’s degree. He also received a master’s from Rockhurst University in 1996 and a law degree in 1999 from the University of Kansas. The database lists his areas of practice as criminal defense, municipal law, traffic law and personal injury.
Politics: Little is known about this member of the commission, who was the only candidate when lawyers from the 3rd Congressional District chose someone to fill a seat on the nominating commission.
Gloria Farha Flentje
Wichita
Elected by lawyers in 4th Congressional District
Term expires 2021
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. 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. She also has donated to U.S. Sen Pat Roberts, Raj Goyle’s unsuccessful congressional campaign and former Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.
Nonlawyer members
Linda Weis
Manhattan
Appointed by Gov. Sam Brownback
Term expires 2022
Career/Education: Owner of Realty Executives Weis Real Estate. Also worked as an associate professor of choral music at Manhattan Christian College. Weis earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of Kansas and her master’s degree at the University of Denver.
Politics: Contributed to former Gov. Sam Brownback.
Robert Hayworth
Stilwell
Appointed by Brownback
Term expires 2020
Career/Education: He works as the office head/managing director for Marsh, an insurance brokerage. This could not be independently verified, however. His LinkedIn profile also shows he was chief operating officer for Siege Sports and served as president and chief executive officer with the financial services company Willis Towers Watson. He also was the chief operating officer and executive vice president of Lockton Cos. He has a bachelor’s degree from East Carolina University.
Politics: Back in 2013, Hayworth criticized the process for selecting judges through the nominating commission process. In written testimony to the House Judiciary Committee, Hayworth said that deliberations on appeals court nominees moved into areas he thought were suspect, including discussions about age, gender, political philosophy and American Bar Association engagement. Frequent campaign contributor to Republicans such as former Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins, Missouri Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler, presidential candidate John McCain, former Congressmen Todd Tiahrt and Mike Pompeo. He also contributed to Brownback.
Dennis Hedke
Andover
Appointed by Brownback
Term expires: 2021
Career/Education: He is the co-owner of Hedke Saenger Geoscience Ltd. He has a master’s degree in material science from the University of Virginia and a bachelor’s in geophysics from Kansas State.
Politics: Former conservative Republican state representative for District 99 from 2011 to 2017. He did not run for re-election in 2016.
Frances Gorman Graves
Bartlett
Appointed by Gov. Laura Kelly
Term expires 2023
Career/Education: Graves is currently 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.
