TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Gov.-elect Laura Kelly plans to return to a merit-based system of selecting appellate court judges, rather than use a different system implemented by former Gov. Sam Brownback.

Kelly will need to appoint a new Kansas Court of Appeals judge soon after she takes office to fill a seat that will become vacant when Judge Patrick McAnany retires in January.

The incoming governor said she will have a nonpartisan nominating committee filter applications for the court and forward three applicants to her. That is similar to the process used before Brownback changed it to allow...