Republicans slam Kansas Supreme Court justice over Davis fundraiser at her home

The Kansas Republican Party criticized a Kansas Supreme Court justice Tuesday, saying a fundraiser hosted for Democrat Paul Davis at her Topeka home was inappropriate.

The event, a casual backyard BBQ seeking donations of $20 apiece, raises “numerous ethical questions for both Davis and the Kansas judicial branch,” Republicans said in a release.

Justice Carol Beier, who was appointed to the court in 2003 by former Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, a Democrat, said that she was not involved in the planning of the Tuesday fundraiser and would not attend it. The event is hosted by her husband, Richard Green, a teacher.

“It’s my husband’s event, and I have taken care not to be there,” Beier said in a phone call. “It’s my husband’s event.”

She declined to respond to the GOP’s criticisms.

The Davis campaign said Republicans misrepresented a casual event hosted by teachers for teachers.

“Justice Beier won’t be there, she had nothing to do with the planning and is in absolutely no way participating with this event. Period,” said Chris Pumpelly, spokesman for the Davis campaign, in an e-mail. He noted Davis was not scheduled to attend either.

Clay Barker, executive director of the Kansas Republican Party, said the court has lost credibility with its rulings. “This fundraiser at Justice Beier’s home for Paul Davis is just one more out-of-touch step by the court,” Barker said.

The court has come under fire from conservatives in recent months for several rulings, including overturning the death sentences of Reginald and Jonathan Carr, brothers convicted of murdering five people in a Wichita crime spree in 2000.

The court ruled against Secretary of State Kris Kobach last week and ordered Democrat Chad Taylor’s name stricken from the ballot in the U.S. Senate race.

This story was originally published September 23, 2014 at 6:40 PM with the headline "Republicans slam Kansas Supreme Court justice over Davis fundraiser at her home."