Shawnee County District Court decision on chief judge election in Solomon v. State.

"Shawnee County District Court Judge Larry D. Hendricks issued a memorandum decision and order in Solomon v. State on Tuesday, September 2, 2015. The court found § 11 of 2014 Senate Sub. for House Bill 2338 (HB 2338), establishing elections for chief judges of judicial districts, unconstitutional as a violation of the separation of powers doctrine of the Kansas Constitution. The court invalidated the remainder of HB 2338 (containing the FY 2015 appropriations to the Judicial Branch, docket fee and filing fee revenue provisions, district court budgeting procedures, and provisions related to filling judicial vacancies) pursuant to the nonseverability provision contained in HB 2338. The court declined to address the effect of its decision on 2015 HB 2005 (HB 2005), which contains a nonseverability provision invalidating its contents in their entirety if any part of HB 2338 is held to be invalid or unconstitutional. HB 2005 contains the FY 2016 and FY 2017 appropriations to the Judicial Branch, extends the Judicial Branch surcharge and provisions related to docket fee revenues, and creates a dispositive motion filing fee."