The Kansas Supreme Court’s chief justice is accusing a prominent legislator of pressuring district court judges into endorsing a proposed judicial selection change.

Chief Justice Lawton Nuss sent a letter Tuesday to district judges. It said Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Jeff King “suggested a link” between the judicial selection proposal and a favorable outcome on budget issues.

Nuss was not at the meeting, but a member of his staff was.

King said the accusation is baseless and demanded a public apology. The Independence Republican released an email from a judge at the meeting saying the allegation is unfounded.

King is pushing the proposal. It would amend the Kansas Constitution to require Senate confirmation of appellate court members.