As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of our nation, we recall that the founders of the United States, after much thought and debate, devised a remarkable system of government with three branches that included checks and balances as a means of protection against abuse of power. Power was also divided between the federal and state governments.

It is a system that empowers citizens to choose those who represent them in the exercise of power. This distinct system of government has survived for more than 250 years, fostering an environment that has protected freedoms and created opportunities for economic success that are the envy of the world. 

For our nation to continue to prosper and protect the God-given dignity of every human life, Americans need to strive to be virtuous and engaged citizens. This requires that we become informed voters, both about the individuals whom we elect to serve in public office as well as about ballot issues.

Americans are considering myriad issues and candidates this year. Among them is the Kansas Right-to-Vote Judicial Selection measure — a measure that’s unlike any other in the country. Kansas is distinct among all the states in our current method of selecting state Supreme Court justices.

In Kansas, every candidate for the Supreme Court has to be nominated by a commission that is dominated by the Kansas Bar Association. A majority of the Nominating Commission is chosen by a small group of lawyers who are members of the Kansas Bar. The Kansas Bar is politically active and is the gatekeeper of the current system. 

By design, there is no citizen input outside of this small group of lawyers. There is no public vetting or media scrutiny about the qualifications of candidates. Most Kansans are not aware that this process is susceptible to the power possessed by special-interest groups.

But courts do not exist to further special interests. They exist to ensure that the laws enacted by Congress and state legislatures and the executive actions of our president and governors are faithful to the powers and limitations set forth in our federal and state constitutions. Justices and judges do not have the authority to legislate — to create and impose laws upon citizens.

One of the worst consequences of the current judicial selection method was the Kansas Supreme Court decision that the Kansas Constitution Bill of Rights, proclaiming “the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” granted a right to unlimited abortion. This absurd interpretation is but one example of the state’s highest court abusing its power by creating legislation.

In March 2025, after decades of effort, the Kansas Legislature succeeded in placing on the Aug. 4 ballot an alternative to this deeply flawed system by restoring to Kansans the right to directly elect justices for our state Supreme Court.

Not surprisingly, trial lawyers’ groups have linked arms with Planned Parenthood, the abortion lobby, and gay-rights and gender-rights advocates, and have spent large sums of money to inundate mailboxes, television, computer screens, radio ads and social media with frantic messages urging Kansans to continue to allow a small group of lawyers to dominate the selection process.

I encourage Catholics, fellow Christians, all people of faith and people of goodwill to pray for wisdom and prudence in casting their votes. As the retired archbishop of Kansas City, I do not speak for the archdiocese. But as a registered Kansas voter, I will be voting to restore to Kansans the ability to choose the justices who serve on the Kansas Supreme Court. 

I encourage Americans to educate themselves about the process for selecting judges and state supreme court justices in their states. Our Founders wisely created a governing system that has served our country well for 250 years. 

God has blessed abundantly the United States of America. We must never take for granted the sacrifices made by so many of our ancestors, who helped found and preserve our nation. We need to be educated and involved citizens for future generations to enjoy the freedoms and opportunities that have been entrusted to us.