Topeka Capital-Journal columnist Ric Anderson is going to miss our own state Sen. Phil Journey, R-Haysville — calling him “an individual in a place with a lot of suits. He worked hard, was conscientious and became a go-to guy for reporters looking for a tasty quote. A gun-rights advocate, he stocked his apartment with handguns, a rifle and a shotgun when he stayed here during sessions. He delighted in saying he rubbed elbows with Charlton Heston and Ted Nugent during NRA events.” Journey is running to become a Sedgwick County District Court judge, a job that would position him far less well to serve reporters with quotes, tasty or otherwise.
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27 Comments
If you ask Senator Phil Journey, “How many stars in the sky,” Phil will give you an answer without hesitation and probably be closer than you will get from others. Although I didn’t always agree with him, Phil is definitely not an empty suit. Phil is a real person and Sedgwick County resource.
On his long running (20 years?)TV call-in show on channel 5, Wichita’s great non-cable TV channel, Phil traded calls and quips from any and all who called in about politics, laws, or whatever.
But now, good luck Phil Journey, as you attempt to transition to another high profile endeavor, as a Sedgwick County judge.
Go for it Senator Phil.
I am not pro-gun but I am pro-Journey. He has distinguished himself as an insightfully capable and active legislator.
And after all, who wouldn’t rather collect a Judge’s paycheck than a State Senator’s? More job security to boot; who contests sitting Judgeships?
Senator Journney’s candidacy raises a question, in my mind, of whether someone who built a reputation championing specific legislation has the right temperament to sit on the bench, where an entirely different skill set is called for. Advocacy is at cross-purposes with judicial deliberation. And moreover, seems to me that his on-the-record record and broadcast history could provide any prospective oppontent with lots and lots of grist for the mill. Say this for Senator Journey: he’s no stealth candidate.
Will be interesting to see how Senator Journey makes the switch, as he tries to muscle his way up to a higher spot on the public trough.
He’s definitely got my vote. The guy is a scholar of the U.S. Constitution and dedicated to seeing it is not adulterated. He works hard and knows what he is doing.
Hope he is successful.
“Will be interesting to see how Senator Journey makes the switch, as he tries to muscle his way up to a higher spot on the public trough.”
What an idiot as usual, as a judge he “muscle his way up to a higher spot on the public trough”, as if judges don’t deserve public money as one of the most necessary foundations of civilized society.
Do I detect some jealousy there because you don’t have it?
Phil – thank you for your advocacy, and good luck. We will miss you in the Statehouse, but I have no doubt that you will be as successful on the bench.
CF, I understand your concerns, but I think they are unfounded. All judges come to the bench after careers in advocacy as practicing attorneys; that’s what attorneys do. To be blunt, an attorney, especially one in private practice, is not uncomfortable changing “hats” depending on the circumstances, and looking at facts dispassionately. We have to do that to explain the options to our clients (or victims, witnesses, etc.) and realisticly attempt to predict the outcome of a case, often in the face of a client who has unrealistic expectations. A judge, after all, is just an attorney with a different job – wearing a different hat.
Remember, too, this is a part-time legislature. And Phil while in the legislature was still actively practicing law. It was not uncommon to see him roaming our hallways on one case or another.
“Judicial temperment,” at the trial court level, is simply applying the law as handed down by the legislature and the appellate courts to individual circumstances as fairly as possible (”simply” is a bit of a misnomer, of course; the description is simple, doing it is not always so). I have no doubt that Phil can do that job.
GMC70,
Fair enough. It is, of course, the case that judges attain their positions having practiced in the ranks of attorneys. And as attorneys, their role is that of advocacy, which, as you say, requires a temperament of dispassionate neutrality.
But as I say, the fact of having pushed through legislation to final passage seems to me a different thing, since proposing and passing legislation seems to require a personal level of commitment that goes beyond the stance defined under advocacy above. And imagine that, should Senator Journey win election, he is called upon to issue rulings on laws that he, himself, helped to write and to pass.
I’m not saying Senator Journey couldn’t do this. But I am saying that he could well find himself in this position, and if he did, his record of strong advocacy for the positions he supports ought to raise a question in voters’ minds.
And imagine that, should Senator Journey win election, he is called upon to issue rulings on laws that he, himself, helped to write and to pass.
CF – should that happen, and either Phil or one of the parties before him believe it is a problem, there’s a simple solution: recusal.
But I think that would rarely be necessary. Applying a law you helped write and pass doesn’t put you on either side of a particular legal issue before you, of course. It simply means one has to apply the law to a particular set of facts – and who better to apply it that one with a part in writing it?
Phil Journey: The man who gave us machine guns.
Whatta legacy.
Dennis
Judge Eric Yost
Judge Tony Powell
Both served in the Kansas Legislature prior to serving on the bench as Judge.
Both are well respected.
Judge Phil Journey has a very nice ring to it!
YellowdogLiberal,
Isn’t it awful? I can barely drive to work with all the mcahine gun fire and chaos in the streets…
EYE ROLL
Yellow Dog
Actually, Phil Journey did not and could not do anything to change FEDERAL fire arms law.
It was silly for Kansas to micro manage, in this particular area.
Federal law is more than adequate.
It is also noteworthy that many of the things Phil Journey supported were signed into law by Democrat Governor Kathleen Sebelious.
It figures the most rabid neocons on the board like Journey. What does that tell you folks???
Gosh, yellow dog. I lay awake at night, worrying about all those horrible machine guns, up and down my block. How dare Kansas actually come into line with FEDERAL law on the subject. It’s terrible, really . . . .
P-mom: If I thought you had a clue what a “neocon” was, at least as it relates to this topic, I’d worry. I don’t.
True GMC.
Neoconservatives actually get their roots from former Democrats who were disenfranchised from the left’s views on Communism and appeasement.
Actually, “neocon” is not a very useful term when describing state and local political views.
“Neocon” was first coined as a term for Jewish Republicans who tend to support Republican foreign policy.
I will also mention that, while Phil Journey and his family are Catholic, Phil does have a bit of Jewish heritage, in his past. Phil was very offended, once, by a charicature of him that was a bit anti-semitic.
Mrs Journeys first name is Suyapa. I confess that I forget her country of origin, but she is a very nice, intelligent and extremely patient woman.
(I think she will enjoy the fact that fewer reporters will be calling, to interupt dinner.)
His kids have been involved in major dance competitions and one daughter was even on TV recently, I believe.
Phil is hardly the “neo-con” stereotype.
Phil is hardly the “red neck” or “bitter clinging on to his Bible and guns” stereotype.
Phil is one of the most unique people we have in politics.
Phil fought hard for his clients, in court, regardless of political differences.
Gerard Scott is a Democrat trial lawyer. (A very good trial lawyer, I might add.)
Gerard Scott is Phil Journey’s Treasurer!
Journey is scum.
I see JR has contributed his usual level of thoughful analysis – i.e., none.
BJ
Journey has done more for the poor than you could ever dream of doing.
Journey frequently represents people who can not afford to pay his bill, all at once.
Journey is a honest, humble man, without an ounce of malice or spite towards anyone, not even his strongest political opponents.
He is truly a man without guile.
Of course, you do not support all of Journey’s political views. In your sick, twisted, childish, mentally unstable view, anyone who disagrees with BJ is “scum”??
What other conclusion can we draw from your comment? You give no indication of any character flaw that you “find” in Journey — you just throw out a childish insult!
Phil Journey will be one of the best, most unbiased and even handed judges that we have ever had in Sedgwick County.
I have seen Phil stick up for people that Phil disagrees with, politically. I have seen this several times.
You, BJ, do not measure up. You are not in the same league, by a longshot. You could not even play for the minor leagues.
Paul is all over himself spreading his love of Journey. I’m telling ya- THAT IS WHY you should not vote for him.
If he was even an iota middle of the road, Paul would despise him.
The Wheel in the Sky will keep on turning, even without Phil.
Journey is scum.
Paul likes him.
Maybe he wants to be a judge so he can rule the Holcomb plant Must be Built.
Wow, well let me try some of this logic.
BlueJay and Political_Mama don’t like Phil so he must be great!
I enjoyed bumping into this article, keep up the good work!!
You yellow dogs are wise to fear and loath Phil Journey. There’s a little known secret about PJ that I’m going to let you in on. On the night he was born, PJ’s mother actually gave birth to twin boys. Unaware that she was carrying twins, she had no second name picked out for her other unexpected son. So she named her sons Phill and Phil. Both went to law school and both went into politics. Phill went on to a stellar career as a State Legislator, Attorney General, and Johnson County Attorney. Thats right, Phill Kline and Phil Journey are twin brothers. Young Phil was always jealous of his more hair endowed sibling and wanting to escape the shadow of his more famous (infamous). brother he began to look for a new name to use. One night in 1978 he went to a rock concert and liked the band so much he took their name as his own. PJ has worked very hard to keep his true identity hidden, but once he is safely behind the Bench he will reveal his true agenda. Be afraid George Tiller, be very afraid.