On November 21st the Kansas Supreme Court convened a short special session to formally swear in Larkin Walsh as the state’s newest justice. The ceremony marked the final step in the process to fill the vacancy left by the retirement of Justice Evelyn Z Wilson. This appointment takes place at a time of heightened political tension in regard to the judiciary, as it takes place just months before voters will decide if the state should return to direct election of State Supreme Court Justices or continue forward with a selection commission put in place in the 1950’s. Walsh’s path to the bench followed the current method of judicial selection referred to as the “Missouri Plan” in which a nine-member commission composed of five attorneys elected by the members of the Kansas Bar Association and four gubernatorial appointees screen applicants and send a list of three finalists to the Governor who selects one. At times the “Missouri Plan” has also been referred to as “merit selection” or “bar-controlled” selection. Supporters of the current method of selecting judges argue that the commission isolates the judiciary from the noise of partisanship and that attorneys are best qualified to assess a justice's qualifications. Critics argue that the process takes place largely out of public view, leading to the perception that important judicial changes can occur without any real public awareness, lending to the idea that the Kansas Supreme Court is elitist and unaccountable. Amid the broader debate, the newest member arrives at the Kansas Supreme Court boasting an extensive appellate background. After earning her law degree from the University of Kansas School of Law, Walsh clerked for the US District Court for the District of Kansas, and later served as a research attorney for the former Kansas Supreme Court Justice Carol Beier. Her later career shifted into the private sector for firms Stueve Siegel and Hanson, Sharp Law, and Chinnery Evans & Nail, where she handled cases in various fields such as civil rights, labor and employment law, consumer protection, and large-scale class actions, and argued in both state and federal appellate courts. At her swearing-in ceremony, Walsh emphasized fidelity to the law, humility in judging, and strict impartiality, which is a message consistent with her career focussed heavily on analytical pursuits rather than political ones. As Kansans prepare for the vote in August of 2026 and whether to keep the Missouri Plan or to restore direct elections, Kansans will get the chance to voice their opinion on whether they think the process is a strength or a liability, and their decision will shape the future of the judiciary in Kansas. If the proposed shift back to popular elections occurs, future elections would take place under much higher visibility and scrutiny than the current system.