Topeka ? A proposal requiring Senate confirmation of appointments to the Kansas Supreme Court, drafted in response to the court’s ruling striking down the state’s death penalty law, was endorsed Wednesday by a legislative committee.

The measure would amend the Kansas Constitution in what supporters said was an effort to make the court more accountable to the public. Critics argued the change would inject politics into justices’ selection.

The Senate Judiciary Committee’s vote was 6-4, and each member voting “yes” was one of the measure’s 28 sponsors. The Senate could debate it next week, said Majority Leader Derek Schmidt, R-Independence, himself a sponsor.

“It gives us one more level of oversight,” said Sen. Les Donovan, R-Wichita.

The debate is fueled by a 4-3 decision in December declaring the 1994 death penalty law unconstitutional over a provision governing how jurors weight evidence for and against execution. On Tuesday, the Senate adopted a resolution urging the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn that ruling.

If two-thirds majorities in both chambers adopt the confirmations proposal, it will go on the November 2006 general election ballot for voters’ approval.