Transfers of Appeals to the Supreme Court

The Supreme Court of Kansas meets periodically to decide whether to transfer particular cases from the Court of Appeals to the Supreme Court. 

Under Supreme Court Rule 8.01, based on K.S.A. 20-3016(a),  the Court of Appeals, prior to final determination of any case before it, may request that such case be transferred to the Supreme Court for its review and final determination based on “one (1) or more of the following findings with respect to such case:

1. One or more issues in such case are not within the jurisdiction of the court of appeals;
2. the subject matter of the case has significant public interest;
3. the case involves legal questions of major public significance; or
4. the caseload of the court of appeals is such that the expeditious administration of justice requires such transfer.”
   

In addition, based on K.S.A. 20-3018(c), at any time on its own motion, the Supreme Court may order the Court of Appeals to transfer any case before the Court of Appeals to the Supreme Court for review and final determination.  Although K.S.A. 20-3018(c) does not state criteria for transfers on the Supreme Court's own motion, typically the Supreme Court considers the factors stated in Rule 8.01.