Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly selected Larkin Walsh as the new Kansas Supreme Court justice to replace outgoing Justice Evelyn Wilson.
The Kansas Supreme Court nominating Commission selected three finalists on June 14, and Kelly had 60 days to choose what could be her last pick on the court.
Walsh most recently worked as the senior counsel at Stueve Siegel and Hanson law firm, where she focused on civil rights, consumer protection and labor law. She's also spent time advising federal courts as a law clerk, and was a clerk for Judge Carlos Murguia in the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas.
She earned her bachelor's degree at Southern Methodist University and her law degree from the University of Kansas School of Law.
“Larkin’s extensive legal experience and her background of service makes her an excellent addition to the Kansas Supreme Court. Her deep understanding of appellate courts, combined with her breadth of experience in civil practice, gives her a unique and invaluable perspective," Kelly said in a press release.
Walsh thanked the Governor and said she's "grateful for the opportunity to serve the people of Kansas."
"My twenty years of experience have reinforced my commitment to the fundamental mission of the courts, which is to ensure access to fair and impartial justice through fidelity to the Rule of Law," Walsh said. "I will strive to be the type of Justice that all Kansans deserve: one who, with a clear understanding of the legal issues, will faithfully interpret and impartially apply the law to the unique facts of each case, irrespective of popular opinion or the political winds, while maintaining an awareness of each decision’s impact on people and on history."
Fifteen candidates considered
Douglas County District Court Judge Amy Hanley and Johnson County District Court Judge K. Christopher Jayaram also made it to the final round of consideration to fill Wilson's seat.
Hanley was previously a director of faculty for advocacy programs at the national Institute for Trial Advocacy, a special assistant U.S. attorney for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas and an assistant attorney general for the Kansas Attorney General’s Office. She completed an undergraduate degree at Kansas State University and a law degree at the Drake University School of Law.
Jayaram previously worked for the law firm Horn Alyward and Brandy and Smith Free Heald and Chock. He has an undergraduate degree from the University of Kansas and a law degree from the Northwestern School of Law at Lewis and Clark College.
The Kansas Supreme Court Nominating Commission, which is comprised of one lawyer and one non-lawyer from each of Kansas's four congressional districts, considered seven judged and eight lawyers for the position before settling on the finalists.
Candidates must have practiced law in Kansas for at least 10 years, be at least 30 years old, have a clean record and not be connected to political or special interest groups.
Evelyn Wilson's resignation
Wilson announced her resignation from the court on March 24. In a letter to Kelly, Wilson said she's resigning due to a recent diagnosis of ALS.
"My tenure as a Supreme Court justice has been a rare gift, and I know it,” Wilson wrote. “It has been my honor and privilege to serve with other justices who have demonstrated utmost integrity, hard work, and legal prowess under circumstances both extreme and mundane.”
Wilson represented the 3rd Judicial District, which is composed of Shawnee County, since January 2020. She was previously the Shawnee County District Court's chief judge from 2014 until her appointment on the Supreme Court.
Last selection?
In August 2026, Kansans will vote on changing the state's constitution to elect Supreme Court Justices rather than the current system. Walsh may be the last Kansas Supreme Court Justice that joins the court via Kansas's "merit-based selection."
Currently, Kansas's Supreme Court Nominating Commission vets candidates and supplies the governor with three candidates to choose from.
The governor appoints four non-lawyer members, one from each congressional district. The four attorneys on the board are appointed via election of lawyers in a congressional district.
Critics have argued that the process gives too much power to attorneys, and that Kansans should decide who sits on the Supreme Court. Supporters argue Kansas's system promotes better candidates, de-politicizes the court and that the direct election of justices is an attempt to subvert the court's pro-abortion rulings.
Kelly defended the state's nominating process in a press release announcing Walsh's selection.
“Our state’s process for nominating Kansas Supreme Court justices produces highly qualified nominees and incorporates voices from across the state. This year in particular, produced three extremely qualified nominees, and I am grateful for the service to Kansas each of them exemplifies,” Kelly said.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Laura Kelly selects Larkin Walsh to fill Kansas Supreme Court vacancy
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