January 4, 2005
(Updated Feb 21, 2005)

A new judicial activist?
Did $750 to Sebelius help get Six the Seventh?

How is our democracy stronger when a political appointment goes to a political contributor?

From http://www.accesskansas.org/legislative/campaignfinance:

SEBELIUS, KATHLEEN

04-04-2002 SIX, STEPHEN       500.00 SEBELIUS, KATHLEEN

07-14-1998 SIX, STEPHEN       100.00 SEBELIUS, KATHLEEN

10-07-1997 SIX, STEPHEN        50.00 SEBELIUS, KATHLEEN

10-08-2002 SIX, STEPHEN       250.00 SEBELIUS, KATHLEEN

10-15-1998 SIX, STEPHEN        50.00 SEBELIUS, KATHLEEN

Somehow the information above was left out of today’s press release (below). 

But perhaps it’s more “destiny” than money, since Democrat Stephen Six’s father is Republican Fred Six, a retired Kansas Supreme Court Justice?

Does the former Supreme Court Justice believe such political contributions should not be scrutinized when a judicial appointment is made?  

The Kansas press seems to ignore such political money, such as it did when a Judge ruled in Sebelius' favor but did not disclose his wife's contributions to Sebelius.

For immediate release
January 4, 2005

Governor Sebelius appoints Steve Six to Seventh Judicial District 

Governor Kathleen Sebelius has appointed Steve Six to the Seventh Judicial District, which includes Douglas County. This is a newly created position by statute, based on a request from the judicial branch for an additional district judge.

“It is essential we have fair and objective judicial members serving the people of Kansas,” said Governor Sebelius. “Steve’s litigation and trial experience will be most beneficial as he takes the bench and I am confident he will serve the people of Douglas County well.”

Six, Lawrence, is currently a partner in the law firm, Shamberg, Johnson & Bergman, in Kansas City, MO.  He specializes in complex litigation and trial work and has been at the firm since 1994.  Between 1993 and 1994, he served as a Judicial Clerk for The Honorable Deanell R. Tacha, United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, assisting in researching and writing appellate opinions. 

Six has been active in bar organizations including serving as a member of the Bench-Bar Committee for the United States District Court for the District of Kansas.  He serves as a member of the Kansas Bar Association Board of Governors, on the Bench-Bar Committee and as Chairman of the Mandatory Malpractice Disclosure Committee.  Six is also a member of the Kansas Bar Foundation Board of Trustees.

Six has been active in civic organizations in Lawrence, serving as the 2004-2005 Co-Chairman of the Commuter Division of the Douglas County United Way Fund Raising Campaign and is currently President of the West Hills Homes Association in Lawrence.

Six received his undergraduate degree in 1988 from Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota.  He graduated with his juris doctorate from the University of Kansas School of Law, in 1993, where he was a Note and Comment Editor on the Kansas Law Review, a member of the Order of the Coif honors society and a Rice Foundation Scholarship recipient

Former justice opposes effort to have Senate confirm high court picks

By Scott Rothschild, Journal-World

Monday, February 21, 2005

TOPEKA — Frustration with recent court decisions on the death penalty and school finance has caused some legislators to push for having a say in who gets appointed to the Kansas Supreme Court.

But former state Supreme Court Justice Fred Six, of rural Douglas County, advised lawmakers to keep their hands off the judiciary so that it will operate as an independent branch of government.

"The Kansas judicial vehicle has been running well," Six told members of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

. . .

K a n s a s M e a d o w l a r k @ e f g 2 . c o m