TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) – The Kansas Senate’s top Democrat is questioning Governor Sam Brownback’s motives for calling a special legislative session.

Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley said Monday that Brownback called the September 3rd session to gain quick approval of a coming appointment to the state Court of Appeals and avoid scrutiny of his nominee.

Brownback must nominate the judge by August 29th.

Brownback asked lawmakers to rewrite a state law allowing judges to sentence convicted murderers to at least 50 years in prison.

A U.S. Supreme Court ruling last month raised questions about the law’s constitutionality.

But Senate GOP leaders said Monday that state law will require the Senate to consider the judicial appointment during the special session rather than waiting until the regular session in January.

In a news release, Hensley said the state needs to hold the governor accountable.

“The $40,000 daily cost of this special session for Kansas taxpayers should be reported as an in-kind contribution to the Brownback re-election campaign,” he said.

Brownback spokeswoman Eileen Hawley said the governor called the special session because of the “Hard 50” law and said it should remain the focus.

She noted that Attorney General Derek Schmidt asked for a special session last week, and Schmidt, a Republican, garnered strong, bipartisan support from legislators, prosecutors and law enforcement groups. Hawley called Hensley’s statements “ridiculous.”

“The governor called the special session out of concern for the victims of particularly heinous crimes,” Hawley said.