Blog

Fairness.  Impartiality.  These attributes are key to maintaining a court system that is respected by the public.  Matt Birch, attorney with Shamberg, Johnson & Berman in Kansas City, MO, and representative from the Kansas Association for Justice, spoke to Rotarians about the role of the judiciary on June 22. Birch began his comments by highlighting the division of power between legislative, administrative, and judicial branches that structures federal and state governments.  The courts were devised to stand independent of politics, serving as a check and balance to the actions of the other two branches of government where individuals are elected to office.

Birch began his comments by highlighting the division of power between legislative, administrative, and judicial branches that structures federal and state governments.  The courts were devised to stand independent of politics, serving as a check and balance to the actions of the other two branches of government where individuals are elected to office. The current method of appointing Supreme Court judges in Kansas is known as a “merit system.” It was established in 1958 in response to the infamous “triple play” that took place in Kansas in 1956.  Designed to separate judicial nominations from politics, the process uses a Supreme Court Nominating Commission made up of attorneys and other citizens to nominate three qualified people for the open seats on the court.  The Governor selects one of the three nominees to serve.

The current method of appointing Supreme Court judges in Kansas is known as a “merit system.” It was established in 1958 in response to the infamous “triple play” that took place in Kansas in 1956.  Designed to separate judicial nominations from politics, the process uses a Supreme Court Nominating Commission made up of attorneys and other citizens to nominate three qualified people for the open seats on the court.  The Governor selects one of the three nominees to serve.Birch explained that the merit system method of selecting judges in Kansas is now being challenged in the state legislature.  Instead of the merit system, the proposal is for a “federal-style” model where the Governor would select the nominee to the Supreme Court, subject to senate confirmation.  Such a change to the selection procedure for Supreme Court judges will require an amendment to the Kansas State Constitution. This new procedure is already in place for the Kansas appellate courts, established under a statute passed in 2013.

Birch explained that the merit system method of selecting judges in Kansas is now being challenged in the state legislature.  Instead of the merit system, the proposal is for a “federal-style” model where the Governor would select the nominee to the Supreme Court, subject to senate confirmation.  Such a change to the selection procedure for Supreme Court judges will require an amendment to the Kansas State Constitution. This new procedure is already in place for the Kansas appellate courts, established under a statute passed in 2013.Matt Birch noted that this fall five Supreme Court judges will be on the state ballot in a routine retention election.  Professional ethics prevents them from  “campaigning” or defending their records in any way.  Birch urged voters to avoid being influenced by whether or not these judges had made decisions that were popular with the public and instead to assess each of the five judges according to their professionalism, ethics, and legal credentials.

Matt Birch noted that this fall five Supreme Court judges will be on the state ballot in a routine retention election.  Professional ethics prevents them from  “campaigning” or defending their records in any way.  Birch urged voters to avoid being influenced by whether or not these judges had made decisions that were popular with the public and instead to assess each of the five judges according to their professionalism, ethics, and legal credentials.

New Lawrence City Manager Tom Markus began his talk to Lawrence Central Rotary on June 17 by detailing his experience in the job. Beginning his career in 1973, he weathered 11 years in Cook County, Illinois, several years in Minnesota and, most recently, the top city job in Iowa City, Iowa.

“In Cook County, I learned how to keep a moral compass; in Minnesota, I was working in a state governed at that time by wrestler Jesse “the body” Ventura; in Iowa, I learned about life in a university town,” he said.  “All these experiences have shaped me, made me more patient and calm.”

But he knows he’s going to need all his experience and patience and a calm attitude in his new job. Markus said when he came to Lawrence he had an ambitious 100-day plan. “But I didn’t realize how complex Lawrence is.”

Now he is working to balance expenses and revenues in light of  the city’s potential for a $1.3 million deficit in 2017. He said some of the options are to raise revenue or cut expenses, but his preference is a middle ground of mixing and matching from both options.

“It’s close to the bone on decisions here,” he told Central Rotarians.  “The city has to provide core services such as police, education.  That’s essential.

“Federal and state government have shed their support for certain services which means we are going to have to handle them locally. Although,” he said “that’s not bad because the distance from services support can be too long. When it’s local, common sense can come into play.” He believes the new city commission has a good impact on budget planning.

“What I’m trying to do is figure how to settle the controversy, avoid polarization, and get to the middle,” he said.

Megan Scheibe of the Lawrence Humane Society said she always has loved animals and proves her point by currently being the adoptive “mother” of four pets.

Speaking at Lawrence Central Rotary on June 8, she said the Humane Society nurtures the human-animal bond by providing shelter, care and advocacy for abused and homeless pets.  In 2015 the Lawrence Shelter took in 3,571 pets including 2,186 strays and 851 that were surrendered by their owners. Dogs made up 1,611 of the received animals, cats were 1,883 and there were 74 others.

When an animal comes into the shelter there is an intake exam . Workers get as much information as possible and give the animal a medical check.  They prepare a behavior evaluation making sure the animals are happy, healthy (mainly  in the case of dogs) and what their personalities are like—if they are high energy or would be better off with an older family. They also see if surgery would be necessary.

“The place for a pet is in a home, not a shelter,” Scheibe said “and we work hard to place them.”  The number of adoptions is on the increase with over 2,000  in 2015. “We don’t keep them any longer than necessary,” she said.  The holding period for strays is three days minimum and for surrenders there is no hold. Others are handled case by case.  The average length of a stay is 27 days, with dogs averaging a 15-day stay.

The shelter staff also does cruelty investigations, 24 hour injured or ill pickup, community outreach education and low-cost micro-chipping.

“We can always use help,” she said. “We train volunteers, have a fostering program, encourage adoptions and are always very happy to accept donations.”