Archive for Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Court critic denied access to justices’ records
June 14, 2006
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Topeka — A state senator on Tuesday criticized the Kansas Supreme Court for refusing to release information related to the school finance lawsuit.
"Most, if not all, of these records are clearly of a public nature," Sen. Tim Huelskamp, R-Fowler, said.
At the center of the dispute is a conversation Justice Lawton Nuss had about school finance with two legislators.
Discussions on pending cases outside the court arena are prohibited unless all parties are participating.
Last year, the Kansas Supreme Court declared the school finance system unconstitutional and currently is reviewing the Legislature's recent three-year $466 million increase to schools.
Since news of the discussion broke, Nuss has removed himself from future deliberations in the case and apologized. He faces a disciplinary hearing, and his actions also are being investigated by a House committee.
Huelskamp, who has been a vocal critic of the court, filed four requests under the Kansas Open Records Act for records from the court.
He asked for copies of justices' appointment calendars; telephone records of justices and their staffs; any communications on the school finance lawsuit; and written reports by court staff to justices on school finance legislation.
Each request was denied. Ron Keefover, a spokesman for the court, cited a part of the Open Records law that exempts the judiciary.
Under the act, "any municipal judge, judge of the district court, judge of the court of appeals or justice of the supreme court" is exempt from the definition of public agencies that must comply with the law. Keefover also cited the Supreme Court's operating procedures that keep secret all internal comments and writings concerning court matters.
But Huelskamp said some of his requests for records were aimed at staff members and shouldn't be exempt from the Open Records Act.
Huelskamp said one of his main concerns was getting access to reports provided by court staff to justices pertaining to proposed school finance legislation.
In a written response to allegations against him before the Judicial Qualifications Commission, Nuss' attorney said Nuss' monitoring of a House bill on school funding was "consistent with the court staff's practice of providing regular written reports to the court regarding proposed school funding bills during the 2005 legislative session."
Huelskamp said the court should not have been gathering information about school finance legislation outside of what was officially submitted into the court record.
He said his next move would be to either file a lawsuit to try to get the records or ask the House committee investigating the Nuss conversation to subpoena the records.
School Finance
More about school finance
- Webcast of live arguments before the Kansas Supreme Court (requires Windows Media Player)
- Brief of the Montoy suit (.pdf)
- Timeline of events in school finance lawsuit
- 6News video: School finance bill to face court
- Plaintiffs: School finance bill fails grade (06-13-06)
- State wants high court to dismiss school suit (06-02-06)
- Legislature approves school finance plan (05-10-06)
- Chat with Bob Corkins, Kansas Education Commissioner (02-02-06)
- House roll call on $148.4 million school finance plan (07-07-05)
- Supt. Weseman's contingency plan (07-06-05)
- More about school finance »
Related documents
- Conference Committee on Senate Bill 549
- House bill info
- Senate bill info
- Kansas public schools cost study
- Kansas public schools cost study executive summary
- Public Education Finances 2004 (.pdf)
- Senate roll call on $148.4 million school finance plan
- Supreme Court's Show Cause Order (07-02-05)
- Supreme Court's Order Denying Extension (.pdf)
- Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 1603 (.pdf)
- Supplemental Note on Resolution No. 1603 (.pdf)
More like this
- Sebelius denies inside information from court 9 comments / May 5, 2006
- Sebelius: Records show no wrong June 15, 2006
- Nuss case brings up records questions 2 comments / May 4, 2006
- Sebelius responds to Nuss allegations 6 comments / May 4, 2006
- Nuss says he regrets meeting 2 comments / June 2, 2006
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14 June 2006
at 6:12 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
johngalt (Anonymous) says…
What is the court hiding?
Where there's smoke, there's fire.
14 June 2006
at 7:16 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Baille (Anonymous) says…
Unless one is mistaking principled opposition for smoke.
Tell you what, John, file a KORA request for Huelskamp's appointment calendars; his telephone records and those of his staff; any communications in his possession on the school finance lawsuit; and written reports by his staff on school finance legislation.
I will bet you dinner for two anywhere in Lawrence that Huelskamp denies your requests.
14 June 2006
at 8:41 a.m.
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Permalink
formerfarmer (Anonymous) says…
If Huelskamp would put as much time and energy towards fixing the school finance problem instead of pointing fingers and looking for someone else to blame, the problem could have been fixed long ago and the courts would be out of the equation.
14 June 2006
at 9:08 a.m.
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Permalink
usaschools (Anonymous) says…
The court isn't hiding anything, they are simply refusing to cooperate with the fishing expedition (and waste of taxpayer money) of a candidate running for governor. The court is doing the right thing. The obstructionists that have prevented progress on school finance seem to be the most interested in this “investigation.”
14 June 2006
at 12:49 p.m.
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Permalink
justthefacts (Anonymous) says…
http://www.ksag.org/open/kora.htm
Information about the Kansas Open Records Act (KORA) for those who want to be better informed on the topic……..