On Tuesday, May 5, 2026, Kansas Reflector reported that a Kansas judge declined to pause his decision-making in a consequential abortion law case, despite state attorneys suggesting a conflict of interest due to his application for a vacancy on the Kansas Supreme Court. Johnson County District Court Judge K. Christopher Jayaram dismissed the state’s request as “pretextual and without any apparent legal or factual basis” in a memo.

Jayaram had applied last month to fill a Kansas Supreme Court vacancy that arose following the retirement of former Chief Justice Marla Luckert in March. State attorneys had requested Jayaram to stay the case until a new Supreme Court justice is appointed, arguing that this would “strengthen public confidence in the proceedings by avoiding any appearance of a conflict of interest.” They pointed out that Governor Laura Kelly, a Democrat, who will ultimately appoint the new justice, is intricately involved in the case’s subject matter, as she oversees state officials who handle the underlying anti-abortion laws being challenged and has recently vetoed two bills that could affect these laws.

However, Jayaram refuted any conflict of interest, stating that he is ethically bound by the Canons of Judicial Ethics to preside over and efficiently adjudicate matters assigned to him, and this case is no exception. He asserted that there is no legitimate basis for a stay or any related relief, despite the State Defendants’ insinuations of a conflict.

Jayaram was previously a finalist for a Kansas Supreme Court vacancy last year, following the retirement of Justice Evelyn Wilson. Even then, he continued to preside over the anti-abortion case without pausing the proceedings.

The case in question involves an abortion provider and Planned Parenthood Great Plains, who have sued state and county officials over the Women’s Right to Know Act, which imposes several state-level restrictions on abortion providers. A two-week bench trial was held in September and October, and a decision from Jayaram has been pending since then. State attorneys have indicated their intention to file a motion to dismiss the case by May 15.

Jayaram is among four judges and three attorneys under consideration for the Supreme Court vacancy. The nine-member Supreme Court Nominating Commission will conduct public interviews before recommending three finalists to Governor Kelly, who will then select an appointee to fill the vacancy.

This appointment could potentially be the last of Kelly’s gubernatorial tenure, as she is set to leave office in January. Her decision is expected to come just weeks before a statewide vote on August 4, concerning a ballot question that seeks to eliminate the current merit-based selection process for choosing Kansas Supreme Court justices, replacing it with a campaign-based, popular vote process.

 

 

Source: Kansas Reflector