Chief justice reappoints retired judge to Kansas Government Ethics Commission

TOPEKA — Chief Justice Lawton Nuss has reappointed Jerome P. Hellmer, a retired judge, to the Kansas Government Ethics Commission. The appointment is for a two-year term that runs through January 2020.

Hellmer has served on the ethics commission since January 2015, when he retired as chief judge of the 28th Judicial District, which is composed of Saline and Ottawa counties. He served as a district court judge from 1996 to 2011 and as chief judge from 2011 to 2015.

Before his appointment to the bench, Hellmer practiced law in Salina for 22 years.

The nine-member Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission is charged with administering, interpreting and enforcing the state's Campaign Finance Act and laws relating to conflict of interests, financial disclosure, and the regulation of lobbying. These laws establish the public’s right to information about the financial affairs of Kansas’ public officials, lobbyists, and candidates for office.

In addition, the commission renders advisory opinions and can adopt rules and regulations under a less comprehensive conflict-of-interest law covering local government officials and employees.

The chief justice of the Kansas Supreme Court appoints one of the members of the commission. The governor appoints two members, and the secretary of state, attorney general, Senate president, House speaker, Senate minority leader, and House minority leader each appoint a member.