TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A bill declaring that Kansas Supreme Court justices can be impeached for meddling too much in the state Legislature's business has cleared its first big hurdle toward passage. The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the bill Thursday on a voice vote. It goes next to the full Senate for debate. The state constitution says Supreme Court justices can be impeached for treason, bribery and "other high crimes or misdemeanors." The bill says the last phrase covers a list of offenses that includes attempting to "usurp the power" of legislators or executive branch. Conservative Republicans have criticized the Kansas high court over death penalty and education funding rulings. Kansas has been at the center of national efforts by conservatives to remake the courts.
