Blue Ribbon Commission

Review of state courts

In 2010, a 24-member Supreme Court-appointed Blue Ribbon Commission reviewed state court operations and structure to find improvements in the way the courts serve Kansans.

Kansas Court of Appeals Judge Patrick McAnany, now a senior judge, chaired the commission.

The commission used a weighted caseload study of both judicial and nonjudicial staff to determine time required to process court cases. It was the first review in Kansas' history to accurately measure time and personnel required to process cases.

The commission submitted its recommendations to the Supreme Court in January 2012, and many of those recommendations have been implemented:

• A statewide centralized case and document management system, paid by state funds and user fees. The statewide centralized case management system is being implemented over three years, and it will be in all district and appellate courts by the end of 2021.

• Mandatory statewide efiling, which became effective June 25, 2018.  

• Recognition of the courts’ electronic version of documents as the official court record. 

• The use of audio/video equipment to preserve a record in the event a court reporter is not available and the use of videoconferencing for some appellate arguments. 

• Vigorous pursuit of outstanding collectible court costs, fees, and fines. The 2017 Kansas Legislature amended laws related to collecting debts under K.S.A. 20-169. These amendments require the cost of collection be paid by the responsible party as an additional court cost in all cases where the party fails to pay debts owed to court or restitution owed under a restitution order. In 2017, the Office of Judicial Administration developed a standard debt collection work plan for all judicial districts. All 31 judicial districts have entered into a contract with a debt collector.

• Resources to provide qualified translators and interpreters, including the use of Skype, Google Voice, or other newly services. In July 2016, the Supreme Court amended Rules 107 and 1701 and adopted new Rules 1702 through 1704 requiring chief judges to appoint a local language access coordinator; establish a code of ethics for spoken language court interpreters; and require spoken language court interpreters to sign an acknowledgment and agreement form that verifies their receipt, review, and agreement to adhere to the Kansas Code of Professional Responsibility for Court Interpreters. 

• Specialty courts, including veterans courts. In July 2017, the Supreme Court amended Rule 109A and adopted new Rule 109B addressing how specialty courts are defined and what standards judicial districts should follow when creating them. The new standards include having measurable goals and objectives using evidence-based practices and having trained, knowledgeable judges overseeing the specialty court.

• Time standards for decisions of the district and appellate courts. In early 2017, as a committee recommended, the Supreme Court adopted internal standards for timeliness issuing its decisions. Those standards—except death penalty and attorney discipline cases—are 25 percent of all decisions released within 90 days of oral argument; 50 percent released within 180 days; and 95 percent within 270 days. The committee deferred any further action pending the implementation of the centralized case management system because that new system will enable several efficiencies, including better data tracking.

• More employee training conducted electronically by the Office of Judicial Administration. The office provides web-based training to court employees across the state, uses videoconferencing for remote participation in meetings, and holds meetings via conference call.