By Austin Fisher
KU Statehouse Wire Service

TOPEKA — City judges and attorneys are asking for the ability to remove their personal information from public websites.

Senate Bill 128 would allow municipal judges, attorneys, and their assistants to request that their identifying information, like home addresses and phone numbers, not be published on public websites that can be searched with keywords.

Currently the Kansas Open Records Act (KORA) allows federal and state judges and prosecutors to request that their contact information be removed from public websites.

Dick Carter, Jr., representing Overland Park, said city judges and prosecutors need to be exempted as well. “Municipal judges and prosecutors deal with persons with extensive criminal histories, and with serious personality and mental health issues,” Carter said.

Last year Overland Park Municipal Court Judge Cynthia Cornwell received threats on social media that resulted in felony charges. Carter said it was one of two threats against Cornwell in the last two years.

“Our administrative prosecutor also received a letter in the mail with disturbing, violent descriptions, even towards her family,” Carter said.

Sen. Jeff King (R-Independence) proposed an amendment to also exclude special assistant attorney generals and special county and district attorneys from KORA.

In written testimony Nicole Proulx Aiken, legal counsel with the League of Kansas Municipalities, supported the bill. “It is not uncommon for them to receive threats because of their public positions and the decisions they make,” she wrote.

Budget Director Shawn Sullivan said local governments may have to spend some extra money to restrict information on public websites but said he couldn’t determine precise costs.

The committee will take final action on the bill on Feb. 19.

Austin Fisher is a senior from Lawrence studying journalism at the University of Kansas.