About the Kansas Supreme Court The Kansas Supreme Court is the highest court in Kansas. It consists of seven justices, each of whom is selected by the governor. The governor appoints from a list of three qualified individuals submitted by the Supreme Court Nominating Commission. After the first year in office, a justice is subject to a retention vote in the next general election. If a majority of electors vote to retain the justice, he or she remains in office for a term of six years. Justices are subject to a similar retention vote at the conclusion of each term. The justice who is senior in terms of continuous service is designated by the Constitution as the chief justice, unless he or she declines or resigns the position. The chief justice exercises the administrative authority of the court. For a full description of the Kansas Supreme Court, visit: Kansas Supreme Court "Purpose and Authority" Meet the Justices Below is basic biographical information about the Kansas Supreme Court Justices. For information on their retention date and Kansas Judicial Watch's recommendation on retention, click here. For more information on their various decisions and their impact, click here. Chief Justice Kay McFarland -- Republican. 70 years old. Appointed as a justice by Republican Gov. Robert Bennett in 1977 and was the first woman to hold that office. She became Chief Justice in 1995 upon the retirement of Hon. Richard W. Holmes. Term expires in 2008 and she must leave the bench no later than January 2009. She is not eligible for any retention vote. More information on Justice McFarland can be found here. Justice Donald L. Allegrucci -- Democrat. 69 years old. Appointed in 1987 by Democratic Gov. John Carlin, served as a Democratic State Senator from 1976-1980. Married to Joyce Allegrucci (former chief of staff to Governor Sebelius). Last confirmed in 2000. Must retire no later than January 2007. He is not eligible for any retention vote. His date of retirement may hinge on how the Governor's campaign is going in the fall. More information can be found on Justice Allegrucci here. Justice Robert E. Davis -- Democrat. 66 years old. Appointed in 1993 by Democratic Gov. Joan Finney, Davis is eligible for a retention vote in November 2006. Justice Davis served as a magistrate judge in Leavenworth County from 1969 to 1976. After serving as an associate district judge for two years, Justice Davis was appointed to the Kansas Court of Appeals in 1986, where he served until his appointment to the Supreme Court. More information on Justice Davis can be found here. Justice Lawton Nuss -- Republican. 52 years old. Appointed in 2002 by Republican Gov. Bill Graves. Received an A+ grade from a gay rights website in the recently decided 6-0 State vs. Limon decision that ruled that homosexual sex cannot be punished more severely than heterosexual underage sex. He was retained in 2004 and will be eligible for retention in 2010. More information on Justice Nuss can be found here. Justice Marla J. Luckert -- Democrat. 50 years old. Appointed in 2003 by Republican Gov. Bill Graves. Received an A+ grade from a gay rights website in the recently decided 6-0 State vs. Limon decision that ruled that homosexual sex cannot be punished more severely than heterosexual underage sex. In 2000 she became chief judge of the Third Judicial District where she served until she was appointed to the Supreme Court. She was retained in 2004 and will be eligible for retention in 2010. More information on Justice Luckert can be found here. Justice Carol Beier -- Democrat. 47 years old. Appointed in 2003 by Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. Before joining the Court on September 5, 2003, she had served as a judge of the Court of Appeals since February 2000. Received an A+ grade from a gay rights website in the recently decided 6-0 State vs. Limon decision that ruled that homosexual sex cannot be punished more severely than heterosexual underage sex. She was retained in 2004 and will be eligible for retention in 2010. More information on Justice Luckert can be found here. Justice Eric Rosen -- Democrat. 52 years old. Appointed on July 23, 2005 by Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. Shawnee County District Court Judge from 1993-2005. Took office belatedly on Nov. 18, 2005 presumably to finish judicial caseload. It appears it may have also been done to delay a retention vote until November 2008 when animosity towards the Supreme Court on its ruling on school finance may have dissipated. Justices must sit on the bench at least 1 year before they sit for a retention vote. More information on Justice Rosen can be found here.