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Rules Adopted by the Supreme Court

Required Continuing Judicial Education

Rule 501
Required Continuing Judicial Education

Appellate and District Judges

(a) Each active Supreme Court Justice, Court of Appeals Judge, District Court Judge, District Court Magistrate Judge, and retired Justice or Judge who is under a Senior Judge contract in the State of Kansas shall earn, commencing January 1, 2011, not less than 13 hours of continuing judicial education each calendar year. For calendar year 2010, not less than 9 hours shall be earned. As of July 1, 2010, any retired Justice or Judge who is not under a Senior Judge contract in the State of Kansas will not be governed by this rule, but by the rules on continuing legal education for all licensed Kansas lawyers.

(b) The Supreme Court, through the Judicial Administrator and staff, shall approve all programs for continuing judicial education credit and shall designate the number of credit hours which can be earned by program attendance. All continuing legal education programs accredited by the Kansas Continuing Legal Education Commission are approved for continuing judicial education credit to the same extent as they are approved for continuing legal education.

(c) Credit for attending approved continuing judicial or legal education programs shall be earned on the basis of 1 credit hour for each 50 minutes in attendance at instructional activities. One-half credit hour shall be earned for attendance of at least 25 minutes.

(d) Continuing judicial education credit up to 5 hours actually spent in preparation and/or teaching may be earned for each 50 minutes of an approved continuing judicial education or continuing legal education program taught.

(e)Continuing judicial education credit may be earned for research, provided the research (1) has produced published works in the form of articles, chapters, books, or other educational materials personally authored, in whole or in part, by the Justice or Judge, and (2) will contribute to the education of the Justice or Judge and his or her peers.

(f) Each Justice or Judge governed by this rule shall submit an annual report of continuing judicial education credits, in such form and manner as the Supreme Court shall prescribe, no later than March 1 of the calendar year following the year in which the credits were earned. The Supreme Court may grant waivers or extensions of time to complete continuing judicial education requirements because of hardship, disability, or other good cause.

[History: New rule effective January 10, 1986; Am. effective May 25, 2010.]