TOPEKA � A survey of judges and lawyers revealed broad endorsements for retention of four Kansas Supreme Court justices and modest support for the lone justice selected by Gov. Sam Brownback.



The nonpartisan Kansas Judicial Evaluation Committee released performance assessments for justices of the Kansas Supreme Court and judges of the Kansas Court of Appeals.



The survey was sent to more than 11,000 people, but participants were asked to evaluate only judges or justices whom they had appeared before or worked with previously. More than 1,200 responses were tabulated.



At least 74 percent of lawyers and 75 percent of judges �strongly� recommended retention of Supreme Court Justices Lawton Nuss, Marla Luckert, Carol Beier and Dan Biles.



Republican Gov. Bill Graves appointed Nuss and Luckert, while Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius selected Beier and Biles.



Luckert received the deepest support in this survey, with backing from 81 percent of lawyers and 88 percent of judges. The other numbers in terms of support from lawyers and judges were Nuss, 78 percent, 81 percent; Beier, 74 percent, 77 percent; and Biles, 77 percent, 75 percent.



For Justice Caleb Stegall, who was appointed in 2014 by Brownback, just 39 percent of lawyers and 54 percent of judges indicated a strong preference for his retention by Kansas voters. Thirty-one percent of lawyers and 7 percent of judges felt strongly that Stegall should not be kept on the bench.



Results were released in advance of the statewide general election Nov. 8, in which Kansans have the option to renew the appointments or oust members of the judiciary.



�Our democracy works best when voters can make informed decisions,� said Gloria Farha Flentje, chair of the judicial evaluation committee. �Without such a review, voters have little or no information on which to cast an informed ballot.�



Among six Court of Appeals judges on the ballot for retention votes, Brownback�s appointees fared better in the survey than Stegall.



Judge Kathryn Gardner, named to the court in 2015, received the lowest marks, as 65 percent of lawyers and 79 percent of judges said they would welcome her retention. Judge David Bruns, appointed by Brownback in 2011, was favored by 79 percent of lawyers and 87 percent of judges.



Judge Karen Arnold-Burger, appointed by Democratic Gov. Mark Parkinson in 2011, days before Brownback was sworn in as governor, was endorsed by 82 percent of lawyers and 84 percent of judges. Judge Gordon Atcheson, named in 2010 by Parkinson, was supported by 76 percent of lawyers and 70 percent of judges.



Judge Steve Leben, who was placed on the bench in 2007 by Sebelius, had the backing of 78 percent of judges and 84 percent of lawyers.



Judge Joseph Pierron, an appointee of Republican Gov. Mike Hayden, received support from 83 percent of judges and lawyers.