OLATHE, Kan. -- For the past 30 years, Johnson County judges have been nominated, but a November vote could change that. Some retired judges and attorneys are against it.

The group known as Johnson Countians for Justice held a news conference Monday on the courthouse steps urging citizens to vote against the measure on the November 4 ballot that would eliminate the current system and allow aspiring judges to campaign for the position.

Currently, lawyers who want to be judges submit an application and go through a merit selection process conducted by a panel and the finalists sent to the governor.

Those who oppose the current selection process said the system should be a democracy.