FAQs
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Kansas Commission on Judicial Performance, and what does it do? The Kansas Commission on Judicial Performance was established by the Legislature in 2006. Its goals are: a. to improve the judicial performance of individual judges and justices and thereby improve the judiciary as a whole; b. where judges and justices are subject to retention election, to disseminate the results of the judicial performance evaluation process to enable voters to make informed decisions about keeping judges and justices in office; and c. to protect judicial independence while promoting public accountability of the judiciary. To accomplish these goals, the Commission on Judicial Performance conducts evaluations of judges and justices and provides those evaluations to the judges and justices for self-improvement. For those judges and justices who are subject to retention elections, the Commission also makes a public recommendation regarding whether the judge or justice should be retained in office. A key part of the Commission's evaluation process is a survey of people who have had sufficient experience with a judge or justice to develop an informed opinion about his or her performance. These people include attorneys, litigants, jurors, witnesses, law enforcement officers, victims, court staff and others. Those surveyed are asked to evaluate the judges and justices on their ability, integrity, impartiality, communication skills, professionalism, temperament and administrative ability. Top 2. Who serves on the Commission on Judicial Performance? The Commission consists of 13 members, six of whom must be non-lawyers and seven of whom, including the chairperson, must be lawyers, judges or justices. At least one non-lawyer member and one lawyer member must reside in each of the state's four congressional districts. Members are appointed by the Kansas Judicial Council. The current members of the Commission on Judicial Performance are:
3. Which judges are evaluated? The Commission evaluates all full-time judges and justices in the state. These include Kansas Supreme Court justices, Kansas Court of Appeals judges and all district judges and district magistrate judges in Kansas. The Commission does not evaluate municipal court judges. Top 4. Who gets to fill out the survey questionnaires? When people have a connection to a case, their names are usually entered into the court's computerized database. The Commission has contracted with an independent research company to randomly select names and addresses from this database. Those people will receive surveys with questions about judges or justices whom they have observed or with whom they have interacted. In some areas where a judge hears few cases, all persons who have observed or interacted with the judge may be surveyed. Top 5. What happens after the survey questionnaires are completed and returned? The completed questionnaires are returned to the independent research company conducting the survey. That company, Talmey-Drake Research & Strategy, Inc., of Boulder, Colo., compiles the results of all of the completed questionnaires it receives into a composite report to be supplied to the Commission on Judicial Performance. Individual questionnaires, including written comments, remain confidential; judges, justices and members of the Commission will not know the names of the people who make comments or what ratings specific individuals give to judges and justices. Top 6. Will judges and justices see any completed questionnaires? No, judges will not see individual questionnaires. They will only be able to see the composite report that compiles the results of all returned questionnaires. That report will include written comments provided by people being surveyed; however, any identifying information in the comments is removed. Top 7. Are the overall results of the judicial performance surveys available to the public? How can I see them? Yes, survey results about judges up for retention election, along with the Commission's retention recommendations, will be made available at the Commission's website, http://www.kansasjudicialperformance.org. Prior to the election, this information will also be made available to the media, and printed materials will be available at various public locations such as the local courthouse or library. Survey results about judges who run in partisan political elections are not released to the public and are used only for the judges' self-improvement. Top 8. I would like to evaluate a judge. Can I do that? The survey is based on a random sampling of people who have observed or interacted with a specific judge. Only those persons selected by the independent polling firm can fill out the official questionnaire. However, if you would like to make written comments about a judge, you may write a letter to the Commission on Judicial Performance. The letter must contain your name and address, but your identity will be kept confidential and will not be revealed to the judge. Letters can be sent to: Kansas Commission on Judicial Performance 301 SW 10th Avenue, Suite 140 Topeka, KS 66612-1507 Phone: 785-296-8949 Fax: 785-296-1035 Email: kcjp@kcjp.ks.gov Top 9. What if I think a judge has done something illegal or unethical? Should I tell the Commission on Judicial Performance? If you believe a judge did something illegal or unethical, you may include this information in a letter to the Commission on Judicial Performance. In addition, you should also contact the Commission on Judicial Qualifications, which has separate responsibility for judicial disciplinary matters: Commission on Judicial Qualifications Kansas Judicial Center 301 SW 10th Avenue, Room 374 Topeka, KS 66612-1507 Telephone: 785-296-2913 Email: ksjudicialqual@kscourts.org Top 10. I feel my attorney is doing a poor job representing me. Can the Commission on Judicial Performance help me? No, the Commission has no authority over attorneys. If you have a complaint about an attorney, you should contact: Office of the Disciplinary Administrator 701 SW Jackson St., 1st Floor Topeka, KS 66603-3729 Telephone:785-296-2486 Fax: 785-296-6049 Email: attydisc@kscourts.org Top 11. I believe the attorney for the other side did something illegal or unethical. What should I do? If you have a complaint about an attorney, you should contact: Office of the Disciplinary Administrator 701 SW Jackson St., 1st Floor Topeka, KS 66603-3729 Telephone:785-296-2486 Fax: 785-296-6049 Email: attydisc@kscourts.org Top 12. I think a judge made a number of legal errors in a decision. What can the Commission on Judicial Performance do about that? The Commission can do nothing to change a judge's decision. However, you may write any comments you would like to make about a judge's decision or performance in a letter to the Commission or on your questionnaire if you are selected to receive one from the polling firm. Top 13. If I have more questions about the Commission or the judicial evaluation process, whom should I contact? If you have additional questions, please contact: Kansas Commission on Judicial Performance 301 SW 10th Avenue, Suite 140 Topeka, KS 66612-1507 Phone: 785-296-2498 Fax: 785-296-1035 Email: judicial.council@ksjc.state.ks.us Top |
