TOPEKA — The Republican-dominated Kansas Legislature has advanced a bill declaring that state Supreme Court justices can be impeached for attempting to usurp the Legislature’s power.
The Senate gave the measure first-round approval on a voice vote Monday. It’s the latest initiative from GOP conservatives in recent years putting Kansas at the center of a national effort to remake state courts.
A final vote is expected Tuesday to determine whether the measure goes to the House.
The state constitution says Supreme Court justices can be impeached for treason, bribery or “other high crimes and misdemeanors.” The bill outlines a list of misconduct covered by the latter phrase, including attempting to impeach the power of other branches of state government.
Supporters included a similar list of grounds for impeaching executive branch officials.
