TOPEKA — Kansas Senate President Susan Wagle is trying to bar Gov. Laura Kelly from nominating a new state Court of Appeals judge after Kelly was forced to withdraw her first choice.
The Senate’s top Republican sent a letter Friday to Attorney General Derek Schmidt asking him to file a lawsuit to keep the Democratic governor from submitting another choice to the Senate for confirmation.
Kelly withdrew her first choice of Labette County District Judge Jeffry Jack last month because of political posts on Jack’s Twitter feed in 2017.
Wagle contends that Kelly can’t make another nomination under a 2013 law. Wagle says the power to make the nomination now goes to Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Lawton Nuss.
Kelly disagrees. Schmidt has urged legislative action to clarify the law.
