Yesterday Gov. Sebelius announced she was appointing Neil B. Foth to be the new District Judge of the 10th Judicial District, which is Johnson County, as a replacement for Judge John Anderson III, who is retiring.
One news source announced the Governor appoints another political ally to bench, with comments that Foth and Democrat Lt. Gov. Mark Markinson once were partners in the law firm Parkinson, Foth & Reynolds.
A quick check showed that Foth was a Democrat and a Sebelius contributor, but some additional checking showed all three of choices for Sebelius were Democrats and her contributors. The judicial court nominating commission had given Gov. Sebelius only Democrats to choose from, which meant Sebelius had a win-win-win political decision.
The method of selecting judges was an issue in a recent 2008 ballot initiative, but voters were content for a politically biased system masquerading as one that is not. Three Democrats were selected by the nominating commssion when Johnson County has over 48% Republicans?
Thee 10th Judicial District Nominating Commission met on Nov 18 and picked three finalists from the following applicants:
- David Todd Arney, Republican
- G. Gordon Atcheson, Democrat
- Robert J. Bjerg, Democrat
- Jon Blongewicz, Democrat
- Veronica L. Dersch, Republican
- Neil Foth, Democrat
- Michael P. Joyce, Republican
- Matthew Miller, political party not known
- Robert Scott, political party not known
- Daniel Vokins, Democrat
- Michael B. White, Unaffiliated
The three finalists were:
- G. Gordon Atcheson, Democrat
- Robert J. Bjerg, Democrat
- Neil Foth, Democrat
Was selection of only Democrats from the list of applicants only by chance?
Atcheson had made about a dozen political contributions to Kathleen Sebelius over the years, including $4200 for her gubernatorials bids.
Bjerg only made a single $1000 contribution to Sebelius in 2006, but also gave Democrat Attorney General $2000 in three contributions.
Foth through his law firm, Foth & Orrick LLP, gave $2000 to Sebelius and $2000 to Morrison in 2006. Foth’s law parner, Tim Orrick, was also a big Sebelius contributor. Orrick and his wife Nancy gave Sebelius a total of $8000. Oddly, in 2002 Orrick gave $2000 to Democrat Sebelius on 9/13/2002 just days after giving Republican Shallenburger $1000 on 8/29/2002.
Sebelius made a previous appointment from a partner in the Parkinson, Foth, Orrick & Brown law firm: In 2007 Sebelius appointed Sally A. Howard to be her chief counsel.
We need more political money transparency in the nomination and selection of our judges.
Related:
- Gov. Sebelius picks Obama Donor for new Kansas Supreme Court Judge, Kansas Meadowlark, Jan 8, 2009.
- Political Profile of Kansas Supreme Court Nominating Commission: Gov. Sebelius stacks deck, Kansas Meadowlark, Jan 7, 2009.
- Crony appointment to judicial nominating committee better than trusting voters in JoCo?, Kansas Meadowlark, Oct 14, 2008.
- Political Profile of Tenth Judicial District Nominating Committee, Kansas Meadowlark, June 4, 2008.
Tags: Kansas Courts, Kathleen Sebelius, Neil B. Foth, Tenth Judicial District Nominating Commission
