The Supreme Court is Kansas's highest court. It consists of seven justices, each of whom is selected by the governor. He appoints from a list of three qualified individuals submitted to him by the Supreme Court Nomination Commission. After the first year in office, a justice is subject to a retention vote in the next general election. If a majority of electors votes to retain the justice, he or she remains in office for a tern of six hears.
Justices are subject to a similar retention vote at the conclusion of each term.
The justice who is senior in terms of continuous service is designated by the Constitution as the chief justice, unless he or she declines or resigns the position. The chief justice exercises the administrative authority of the court. The 10 Court of Appeals judges are selected in the same manner as Supreme Court justice but serve terms of four, rather than six, years. One of the 10 Court of Appeals judges is appointed chief judge of the Court of Appeals by the Supreme Court. Judges of the district court are selected in one of two ways, either by merit selection and retention vote, or by partisan ballot.