Senate President Susan Wagle presides over the debate to confirm Caleb Stegall. (Photo by Stephen Koranda)The Kansas Senate has confirmed the nomination of Caleb Stegall to the Kansas Court of Appeals. The 32-8 vote will send Stegall to the state's second-highest court. Governor Sam Brownback chose Stegall, his administration's top attorney, for the seat. Senator Anthony Hensley, a Topeka Democrat, said he won’t support Stegall because the other candidates weren’t made public.
But Senator Terry Bruce, a Republican from Hutchinson, said Stegall can be compared to judges appointed to other courts in Kansas.
This is the first appointment under a new system where the governor chooses nominees for the Kansas Court of Appeals. The nominees must be confirmed by the state Senate.