2020 News Releases

TOPEKA—Some data systems supporting court operations statewide remain offline this morning.  

The Office of Judicial Administration took the data systems offline at 6 p.m. Monday to install a new server that supports these systems. Technicians anticipated service would be restored by 6 a.m. today, but ...

TOPEKA—Chief Justice Marla Luckert issued a new administrative order today continuing to suspend statutes of limitation, statutory time standards, deadlines, and time limitations started under earlier orders in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Luckert's action to issue

TOPEKA—The 1st Judicial District Nominating Commission has sent the names of four nominees for district judge to Gov. Laura Kelly, who has 60 days to decide who will fill the vacancy created when Judge Robert ...

TOPEKA—Data systems supporting court operations statewide will be offline from early Monday evening to early Tuesday morning, December 14-15, making some services unavailable.

From 6 p.m. Monday, December 14, through 6 a.m. Tuesday, December 15, the following systems and services will be unavailable:

TOPEKA—The 9th Judicial District Nominating Commission will convene January 12 to interview nominees to fill a district magistrate judge vacancy in McPherson County created by Judge Steve Hilgers' January 8 ...

TOPEKA—The 8th Judicial District Nominating Commission will convene December 21 to interview nominees to fill a vacancy for district magistrate judge in Geary County created by Judge Charles Zimmerman's ...

TOPEKA—The 10th Judicial District Nominating Commission has sent the names of three nominees for district judge to Gov. Laura Kelly, who has 60 days to decide who will fill the vacancy created by District Judge Thomas Foster's November 29 retirement.

The 10th Judicial District is composed ...

TOPEKA—Melissa Taylor Standridge, Leawood, will be sworn in as a justice of the Kansas Supreme Court at 9 a.m. Monday, December 14.

Chief ...

TOPEKA—The 8th Judicial District Nominating Commission will convene December 21 to interview nominees to fill a vacancy for district magistrate judge in Geary County created by Judge Charles Zimmerman's ...

TOPEKA—Former Kansas Supreme Court Justice Tyler Charles Lockett, 87, died Saturday, November 28, from COVID-19.

Lockett was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1983 by then-Governor John Carlin. He retired from the court in 2003. Prior to his appointment he was a Sedgwick County District Court judge and a private practice attorney ...

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court has authorized the temporary relocation of Thomas County District Court offices from the Thomas County Courthouse to 1105 Taylor Ave. in Colby.

The move will allow for renovations to the courthouse. District court offices will remain in the temporary location until they move to a new judicial ...

TOPEKA—The 12th Judicial District Nominating Commission Judicial District Nominating Commission is seeking nominations to fill a district magistrate judge vacancy in Washington County created when Judge Paul ...

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court today issued four administrative orders regarding policies and procedures related to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

"The Supreme Court manages the state court system's pandemic response through policies and procedures set out in administrative order," said Chief Justice Marla ...

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court is accepting public comment on a proposed rule that would establish a framework through which stakeholders could gain expanded access to court case information in the Kansas eCourt case management system.

The court will accept comment at

TOPEKA—The 12th Judicial District Nominating Commission will convene by telephone conference at 1:30 p.m. Monday, November 30, to discuss the nomination process for a district magistrate judge vacancy in ...

TOPEKA—The 10th Judicial District Nominating Commission will convene by videoconference December 9 to interview nominees to fill a district judge vacancy created by Judge Thomas Foster's November 29 retirement.

The 10th Judicial District is composed of Johnson County.

TOPEKA—The 1st Judicial District Nominating Commission will convene December 11 to interview nominees to fill a district judge vacancy in Atchison County created by Judge Robert Bednar's January 11 ...

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court adopted a temporary rule today to help people who represent themselves in court by allowing them to file documents in a case by mail, fax, or drop box during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The intent of the temporary rule to is to establish procedures that increase access to justice while protecting the ...

TOPEKA—Applicants who successfully passed the September 20 Kansas bar examination will be sworn in as Kansas attorneys Friday, November 20.

Chief Justice Marla Luckert of the Supreme Court and Chief Judge Julie Robinson of the U.S. District Court, District of Kansas, congratulated the news attorneys by 

TOPEKA—The 2nd Judicial District Nominating Commission has selected Angela Anderson to fill a magistrate judge vacancy in Wabaunsee County.

The commission conducted public interviews of nominees by ...

TOPEKA— The 2nd Judicial District Nominating Commission has sent the names of three nominees for district judge to Gov. Laura Kelly, who has 60 days to decide who will fill the Jefferson County vacancy ...

TOPEKA—District Magistrate Judge Jenifer Ashford was elected president of the Kansas District Magistrate Judges Association.

The ...

TOPEKA—The Kansas District Judges Association, an organization open to all state district court judges, has elected officers to serve the organization ...

TOPEKA—The 2nd Judicial District Nominating Commission will interview nominees by videoconference Tuesday, November 17, to fill vacancies for a district judge and a district magistrate judge that are the result ...

TOPEKA—Chief Justice Marla Luckert issued a new administrative order today continuing to suspend statutes of limitation, statutory time standards, deadlines, and time limitations started under earlier orders in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Luckert's action follows the State Finance Council's decision today to extend ...

TOPEKA—The 2nd Judicial District Nominating Commission agreed to interview an additional nominee when it convenes at 9 a.m. Tuesday, November 17, at the Kansas Judicial Center in Topeka.

The ...

TOPEKA—The 9th Judicial District Nominating Commission is seeking nominations to fill a district magistrate judge vacancy in McPherson County created by Judge Steve Hilgers' January 8 retirement.

TOPEKA—The 8th Judicial District Nominating Commission is extending the deadline to receive nominations to fill a vacancy for district magistrate judge in Geary County created by Judge Charles Zimmerman's ...

TOPEKA—The 2nd Judicial District Nominating Commission will convene by telephone conference at 9 a.m. Friday, November 13, to reconsider a nominee's application for a district magistrate judge vacancy in ...

TOPEKA—The 2nd Judicial District Nominating Commission will convene at 9 a.m. Tuesday, November 17, at the Kansas Judicial Center in Topeka to interview nominees to fill vacancies for a district judge and a ...

TOPEKA—District Judge Robert Bednar of the 1st Judicial District will retire January 11 after 22 years of service.

Bednar became a judge in ...

TOPEKA—District Magistrate Judge Marty Clark of Russell County received the Lee Nusser Award for Outstanding Magistrate Judge of 2020.

The ...

TOPEKA—The Kansas District Judges Association presented its Award for Judicial Excellence to Chief Judge Michael Powers of Marion during a recent ...

TOPEKA—The 8th Judicial District Nominating Commission will convene by telephone conference at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, November 10, to discuss seeking additional nominees for a district magistrate judge vacancy in ...

TOPEKA—The 10th Judicial District Nominating Commission will meet November 20 to review nominations to fill a district judge vacancy in Johnson County created when Judge Thomas Foster retires November 29.

The 10th Judicial District is composed of Johnson County.

The nominating ...

TOPEKA—After two years of rigorous study and collecting input from a wide range of experts and stakeholders, the Ad Hoc Pretrial Justice Task Force delivered its final report to the Kansas Supreme Court today.

The 84-page

TOPEKA—The 1st Judicial District Nominating Commission is seeking nominations to fill a district judge vacancy in Atchison County created by Judge Robert Bednar's January 11 retirement.

The 1st ...

TOPEKA—The 2nd Judicial District Nominating Commission will convene at 9 a.m. Tuesday, November 17, and at 1:30 p.m. Friday, November 20, in the Kansas Judicial Center, Topeka, to interview nominees seeking to ...

TOPEKA—The 2nd Judicial District Nominating Commission will convene by telephone conference at 4:30 p.m. Friday, October 30, to review nominee applications for two judge vacancies.

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court has appointed District Judge Jeff Elder to serve as chief judge of the 2nd Judicial District effective January 11 through ...

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court has appointed District Judge Steve Johnson to serve as chief judge of the 20th Judicial District effective January 11 ...

TOPEKA—District Magistrate Judge Joey Duncan will retire December 31 after serving 20 years in Gray County.

Duncan was elected judge in 2000 and ...

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court announced today that courts in six judicial districts in east and southeast Kansas are scheduled to convert to a new case management system between October 27 and November 2.

Track 3 courts

The judicial districts are known collectively as “Track 3” in the

TOPEKA—Courts in the 8th and 21st Judicial Districts will not accept electronic filings and electronic payments from 5 p.m. October 28 to noon October 29.

Track 1 courts

The judicial districts are known collectively as “Track 1” in the

TOPEKA—Thirteen district judges from across the state will join the Kansas Supreme Court to hear and help decide cases on the court's October 26–30, 2020, docket that will take place virtually.

They will ...

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court is accepting public comment on a proposed rule that will require foreign language court interpreters to complete a free online orientation program before providing services in Kansas courts.

Language in proposed

TOPEKA—Chief Justice Marla Luckert issued a new administrative order today continuing to suspend statutes of limitation, statutory time standards, deadlines, and time limitations started under earlier orders in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Luckert's action follows the State Finance Council's October 7 decision ...

TOPEKA—District Judge Thomas Foster of the 10th Judicial District will retire November 29 after 21 years of service.

Foster became a judge in ...

TOPEKA—The 8th Judicial District Nominating Commission is seeking nominations to fill a vacancy for district magistrate judge in Geary County created by Judge Charles Zimmerman's January 11 retirement.

TOPEKA—The 10th Judicial District Nominating Commission is seeking nominations to fill a district judge vacancy in Johnson County created when Judge Thomas Foster retires November 29.

The 10th Judicial District is composed of Johnson County.

Justice Evelyn Wilson, the Supreme Court departmental justice responsible for ...

TOPEKA—The 2nd Judicial District Nominating Commission is seeking nominations to fill vacancies for a district judge and a district magistrate judge.

Chief Judge Gary Nafziger of Jefferson County will ...

TOPEKA — The Supreme Court Nominating Commission today voted on the names of three nominees for Supreme Court justice to send to Gov. Laura Kelly.

A letter from the nominating commission chair will be hand-delivered to the governor’s office during ...

TOPEKA—District Magistrate Judge Charles Zimmerman of Geary County will retire January 11 after serving 14 years.

He was appointed judge in 2007. Geary County is part of the 8th Judicial District ...

TOPEKA—The 8th Judicial District Nominating Commission will convene by telephone conference at 9 a.m. Wednesday, October 7, to review the nomination form and set the schedule for accepting nominations for a ...

TOPEKA—The 2nd Judicial District Nominating Commission will convene by telephone conference at 11 a.m. Tuesday, October 6, to review nomination forms and set schedules for accepting nominations for two judge ...

TOPEKA—The 30th Judicial District Nominating Commission has sent the names of four nominees for district judge to Gov. Laura Kelly, who has 60 days to decide who will fill the vacancy in Sumner County created ...

TOPEKA—District Magistrate Judge Blaine Carter will retire December 8 after 26 years of service in Wabaunsee County.

He was ...

TOPEKA—The Kansas judicial branch will use a $3.52 million grant to pay for pandemic-related expenses and help courts shift to more online and remote services.

"The pandemic challenged our courts to reimagine how we serve the people of Kansas,” said Chief Justice Marla Luckert. “We have embraced new ways of ...

TOPEKA—Successful applicants to the July 2020 Kansas bar examination will be sworn in as Kansas attorneys Friday, September 25.

These are two options for September 25, but admittees can also choose to be sworn in by any state judge.

In-person ceremony

Chief Justice Marla Luckert and Justice ...

TOPEKA—Chief Justice Marla Luckert issued a new administrative order today continuing to suspend statutes of limitation, statutory time standards, deadlines, and time limitations started under earlier orders in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Luckert's action follows the State Finance Council's decision last week to ...

TOPEKA—Judge William Mahoney of the 29th Judicial District has been appointed to sit with the Kansas Supreme Court to hear oral arguments in one case on the court's

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court is accepting public comment on changes to attorney discipline rules.

Comment may be made by email to SCRulespubliccomment@kscourts.org until noon Tuesday, November 10. The subject line ...

TOPEKA—District Judge David Hauber of the 10th Judicial District has been appointed to sit with the Kansas Supreme Court to hear oral arguments in one case on the court's

TOPEKA—Chief Judge Grant Bannister of the 21st Judicial District has been appointed to sit with the Kansas Supreme Court to hear oral arguments in one case on the court's

TOPEKA—The Supreme Court Nominating Commission will convene October 5 to interview applicants to fill a vacancy on the Kansas Supreme Court created by

TOPEKA—District Judge Eric Commer of the 18th Judicial District has been appointed to sit with the Kansas Supreme Court to hear oral arguments in one case ...

TOPEKA—Today, the Kansas Supreme Court issued an administrative order giving additional direction to district and appellate court regarding operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Administrative Order 2020-PR-099 amends earlier orders and the court’s

TOPEKA—District Judge Jeff Elder of the 2nd Judicial District has been appointed to sit with the Kansas Supreme Court to hear oral arguments in one case on the court's

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court is accepting public comment on an amended rule making child in need of care cases confidential to prevent public access. 

Comment on the proposed amendment may be made by email to publiccomments@kscourts.org until 5 ...

TOPEKA—Three judges and eight lawyers applied by a noon deadline September 2 to fill a Kansas Supreme Court vacancy created by Justice Carol Beier's September 18 retirement. The

TOPEKA—District Magistrate Judge Margaret "Peggy" Alford will retire October 2 after serving 28 years in Grant County.

Alford was ...

TOPEKA—The 30th Judicial District Nominating Commission will convene September 30 to interview seven nominees to fill a district judge vacancy in Sumner County created when Judge R. Scott McQuin retired August ...

TOPEKA—Before a Kansas Supreme Court task force charged with examining pretrial detention practices delivers its final report to the court, it will offer two public forums to answer questions about its findings, recommendations, and proposed best practices.

Chief Judge Karen Arnold-Burger, the Kansas Court of Appeals judge who ...

TOPEKA—Two fewer district courts are processing marriage license applications, but 16 others continue to provide the remote service by phone and email.

District courts in Crawford and Miami counties no longer take marriage license applications, but both will finish processing ones they have already received if applicants pay the ...

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court appointed Randall Pankratz and Scott Wright to the Municipal Court Judges Education Committee.

The court reappointed Katherine McElhinney and Karen Torline.

Their terms began July 1 and end June 30, 2023.

Pankratz is municipal judge for the cities of Burns, Halstead, Hesston ...

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court reappointed District Magistrate Judge Marty Clark and District Judge Mark Ward to the Judges Assistance Committee.

They will serve four-year terms that began July 1 and end June 30, 2024.

Clark serves in Russell County in the 20th Judicial District. Ward serves in the 6th Judicial ...

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court appointed four new members and reappointed three to the Access to Justice Committee.

The new members are:

• Chief Judge Kevin Berens, who serves in the 15th Judicial District, composed of Cheyenne, Logan, Rawlins, Sheridan, Sherman, Thomas, and Wallace counties;

...

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court is accepting public comment on proposed Rule 124 that will allow courts to collect contact information from parties, witnesses, and potential jurors to help with case processing.

Contact information will include ...

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court appointed four new members and reappointed two others to the Kansas Lawyers Assistance Program Board.

New members are:

• Justin Barrett, a lawyer at Barrett Law Firm, Colby;

• Emily Hartz, a lawyer at Sloan, Eisenbarth, Glassman, Mcentire & Jarboe ...

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court reappointed District Magistrate Judge James Kepple to the District Magistrate Judges Certification Committee.

His four-year term began July 1 and ends June 30, 2024.

Kepple serves in Riley County of the 21st Judicial District, which also includes Clay County.

The committee ...

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court reappointed four members to the Kansas Sentencing Commission.

The reappointed members will serve two-year terms ending June 30, 2022. They are:

• District Judge W. Lee Fowler, who serves in the 5th Judicial District, composed of Chase and Lyon counties;

TOPEKA—Chief Justice Marla Luckert announced changes in job duties for four Supreme Court staff.

General counsel

Ashley Jarmer is named general counsel to the chief justice.

She has been a research attorney for the chief justice since August 2019. She previously was a research attorney for ...

TOPEKA—Kansas Court of Appeals judges will hear appeals by videoconference Thursday, August 13. The oral arguments will be livestreamed on YouTube.

Judge Sarah Warner is the presiding judge and is joined by Judges Melissa Taylor Standridge and Kathryn ...

TOPEKA—Kansas Court of Appeals judges will hear one appeal by videoconference Tuesday, August 11. The oral arguments will be livestreamed on YouTube.

Judge G. Gordon Atcheson is the presiding judge and is joined by Judges David Bruns and Anthony Powell ...

TOPEKA—Kansas Court of Appeals judges will hear appeals by videoconference Wednesday, August 12. The oral arguments will be livestreamed on YouTube.

Judge Kim R. Schroeder is the presiding judge and is joined by Judges Henry Green Jr. and Michael Buser ...

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court today issued two administrative orders and a mandates and guidance document to give direction to courts as they prepare to safely resume jury trials.

The orders and the guidance document incorporate best practices recommended in the report

TOPEKA—Kansas Court of Appeals judges will hear appeals by videoconference Monday, August 10. The oral arguments will be livestreamed on YouTube.

Judge Stephen Hill is the presiding judge and is joined by Judge Thomas Malone and Senior Judge Richard ...

TOPEKA—Keynen "KJ" Wall Jr., Lawrence, will be sworn in as a justice of the Kansas Supreme Court in a private ceremony at 11 a.m. today, August 3, ...

TOPEKA—Chief Justice Marla Luckert said today she will not reinstate statutes of limitation and statutory time standards or deadlines that apply to conducting or processing of judicial proceedings on August 17.

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court appointed Jacy Hurst of Lawrence and C. Edward Watson of Wichita to five-year terms on the Kansas Board of Law Examiners.

Hurst is a lawyer and partner at Kutak Rock, Kansas City, Mo. She succeeds Laura Ice, vice president and general ...

TOPEKA — The 30th Judicial District Nominating Commission is seeking nominations to fill a district judge vacancy in Sumner County created when Judge R. Scott McQuin retires August 15.

The 30th ...

TOPEKA—The 1st Judicial District Nominating Commission has sent the names of three nominees for district judge to Gov. Laura Kelly, who has 60 days to decide who will fill the vacancy created by the July 17 ...

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court reappointed James Oliver to a three-year term on the Admissions Review Committee.

Oliver will serve a term that began July 1 and ends June 30, 2023. He is a lawyer at Foulston & Siefkin, Overland Park.

The committee, composed of three practicing lawyers, reviews applications of ...

TOPEKA—The 28th Judicial District Nominating Commission has selected Jason Parks to fill a magistrate judge vacancy in Ottawa County.

The commission met July 28 by videoconference and interviewed three nominees for the position. The meeting was broadcast live over YouTube.

Park's new position will be effective on ...

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court reappointed Doni Mooberry and Michelle Slinkard to the Kansas Child Support Guidelines Advisory Committee.

Mooberry is a Lawrence lawyer. Slinkard is a Topeka lawyer. They will serve terms that began July 1 and end June 30, 2024.

The Supreme Court also appointed District Judge Keven O' ...

TOPEKA—Chief Justice Marla Luckert said today she has adjusted her plan to reinstate statutes of limitation and statutory time standards or deadlines that apply to conducting or processing of judicial proceedings.

Luckert had announced June 29 she planned to reinstate most time requirements effective August 3, based on the ...

TOPEKA—The Supreme Court Nominating Commission is accepting nominees for a vacancy on the Kansas Supreme Court created by

TOPEKA—The 28th Judicial District Nominating Commission will convene by videoconference at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 28, to interview nominees to fill a district magistrate judge vacancy in Ottawa County created by the August 14 retirement of Judge Mary Thrower.

The meeting will be broadcast live on the Kansas judicial branch ...

TOPEKA—The 1st Judicial District Nominating Commission will convene Tuesday, July 28, to interview six nominees to fill a district judge position in Leavenworth County created by the July 17 retirement of Judge ...

TOPEKA—The Supreme Court Nominating Commission will meet by videoconference at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 22, to discuss procedures in advance of seeking nominations for a vacancy on the Kansas Supreme Court ...

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court appointed Court of Appeals Judge Sarah Warner to the Judicial Education Advisory Committee.

She will complete the unexpired term of Steve Leben, who stepped down from the Court of Appeals in June to teach at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law.

The Supreme Court also ...

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court appointed Jon Newman and Coleen Stein to three-year terms on the Client Protection Fund Commission.

Newman is a lawyer from Wichita. Stein is a nonlawyer from Dodge City. Their terms began July 1 and end June 30, 2023.

The

TOPEKA—The 28th Judicial District Nominating Commission will convene by telephone conference at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 14, to discuss procedural matters and review nominees to fill a district magistrate judge ...

TOPEKA—The Kansas judicial branch was awarded $1.6 million from the state's Federal Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding Program to help pay for technology improvements that will provide broader digital access to justice and allow courts to conduct more operations remotely.

The grant will help pay for:

TOPEKA—Kansas Court of Appeals judges will hear appeals by videoconference Thursday, July 16, and Tuesday, July 21. The oral arguments will be livestreamed on YouTube.

Judge Michael Buser is the presiding judge and is joined by Judges Stephen Hill and ...

TOPEKA—The 1st Judicial District Nominating Commission will convene at 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 28, to interview six nominees to fill a district judge position in Leavenworth County created by the July 17 ...

TOPEKA—Kansas Court of Appeals judges will hear appeals by videoconference Tuesday, July 14. The oral arguments will be livestreamed on YouTube.

Judge Tom Malone is the presiding judge and is joined by Senior Judges Patrick McAnany and James Burgess for ...

TOPEKA— The 10th Judicial District Nominating Commission has sent the names of three nominees for district judge to Gov. Laura Kelly, who has 60 days to decide who will fill the vacancy created by District ...

TOPEKA—Kansas Court of Appeals judges will hear appeals by videoconference Wednesday, July 15. The oral arguments will be livestreamed on YouTube.

Judge Henry Green Jr. is the presiding judge and is joined by Judges G. Gordon Atcheson and Kathryn Gardner ...

TOPEKA—The 28th Judicial District Nominating Commission will convene Tuesday, July 28, to interview three nominees to fill a district magistrate judge vacancy in Ottawa County.

The vacancy was ...

TOPEKA—Kansas Court of Appeals judges will hear appeals by videoconference Monday, July 13. The oral arguments will be livestreamed on YouTube.

Chief Judge Karen Arnold-Burger is the presiding judge and is joined by Judges David Bruns and Kim Schroeder ...

TOPEKA—The 10th Judicial District Nominating Commission will convene by videoconference at 8 a.m. Wednesday, July 8, to interview nominees to fill a district judge vacancy in Johnson County created by the July ...

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court appointed Tracey Lee to a three-year term on the Kansas Continuing Legal Education Board.

Her term began July 1 and ends June 30, 2023.

The board oversees continuing legal education requirements for lawyers licensed to practice in Kansas. Attorneys must earn a minimum of 12 credit hours ...

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court reappointed four attorneys to four-year terms on the Kansas Board for Discipline of Attorneys.

Their terms began July 1 and end June 30, 2024.

Reappointed were:

• John ...

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court today issued an administrative order requiring district and appellate courts to comply with the governor's order requiring people to wear face coverings in public areas to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Administrative Order 2020-PR ...

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court appointed Katie Marcum, municipal court clerk for the city of South Hutchinson, to a three-year term on the Municipal Court Clerks Education Committee.

The court also reappointed Deana Scott, court administrator for the city of Prairie Village.

Their terms begin July 1 and end June 30 ...

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court appointed Melinda Young and reappointed Jennifer Hill to the Kansas Board of Examiners of Court Reporters.

They will serve three-year terms that begin July 1 and end June 30, 2023.

Young is an attorney from Hutchinson. Hill is an attorney from Wichita.

The Kansas Board of ...

TOPEKA—Chief Justice Marla Luckert announced today her plan to reinstate statutes of limitation and statutory time standards or deadlines that apply to the conduct or processing of judicial proceedings.

“My actions to suspend some deadlines and time limitations at the beginning of the pandemic were to uphold peoples&rsquo ...

TOPEKA—The 10th Judicial District Nominating Commission will convene at 8 a.m. Wednesday, July 8, to interview nominees to fill a district judge vacancy in Johnson County created by District Judge Sara Welch ...

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court is accepting public comment on a proposed rule that directs chief judges of the Court of Appeals and the state’s 31 judicial districts to each designate two liaisons to work with the court’s Access to Justice Committee to ...

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court appointed three people to the Language Access Committee and reappointed a current member.

The committee makes recommendations to the Supreme Court to ensure that people with limited English skills can access services of Kansas district courts.

Appointed to the committee:

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court reappointed four members to the Kansas Commission on Judicial Conduct.

Reappointed were:

• Sister Rosemary Kolich, Leavenworth, a member of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth and nonlawyer member of the commission;

  ...

TOPEKA—District Magistrate Judge Mary Thrower will retire August 14 after serving 14 years in the

TOPEKA—The 10th Judicial District Nominating Commission will convene by videoconference at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, June 25, to review nominees and schedule interviews to fill a district judge vacancy in Johnson ...

TOPEKA—The 1st Judicial District Nominating Commission is seeking nominations to fill a district judge vacancy in Leavenworth County created by the July 17 retirement of Judge Michael Gibbens.

The 1st ...

TOPEKA—The 28th Judicial District Nominating Commission is seeking nominations to fill a district magistrate judge vacancy in Ottawa County created by the August 14 retirement of Judge Mary Thrower.

TOPEKA—The 28th Judicial District Nominating Commission will convene by telephone conference at 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 17, to review the nomination form and set the schedule for accepting nominations for a district magistrate judge vacancy created by the August 14 retirement of Judge Mary Thrower.

The meeting is open to the ...

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court has amended Rules 20 through 24, known collectively as the Kansas eCourt Rules.

The amendments took effect June 12 and apply in district courts using the new centralized case management system and will apply in other courts as they begin using the system.

The courts now using the ...

TOPEKA—Chief Justice Marla Luckert today announced two new administrative orders regarding the safe operation of Kansas courts during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Kansas courts continue to take steps to protect the health and safety of court users, employees, and judges," said Luckert said. "People often have little or ...

TOPEKA – Justice Carol A. Beier announced today ...

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court has established an Ad Hoc Virtual Court Proceedings Committee to study and recommend best practices for using videoconferencing in Kansas courts.

Beginning March 12, the Supreme Court issued a series of orders in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. To safeguard court users, staff, and judicial ...

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court today appointed an Ad Hoc Jury Task Force to analyze issues courts will face when jury operations resume in district courts across the state.

The task force will study and recommend:

• ...

TOPEKA—The 10th Judicial District Nominating Commission will convene by videoconference at 12:15 p.m. Thursday, June 4, to discuss its nomination form.

The meeting is open to the public, and anyone who wants to listen may request instructions by emailing info@kscourts.org.

The 10th ...

TOPEKA—Chief Justice Marla Luckert today delivered a written State of the Judiciary report to the governor and the chairs of the House and Senates judiciary committees, as well as to all members of the Kansas ...

TOPEKA—The 10th Judicial District Nominating Commission will convene July 8 to interview nominees to fill a district judge position in Johnson County created by the July 1 retirement of Judge Sara Welch.

Interviews are open to the public and they will start at a time to be announced later. All will take place at the Johnson ...

TOPEKA—Kansas Court of Appeals judges will hear one appeal by videoconference at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 2. The oral arguments will be livestreamed on YouTube.

It is the second time during the pandemic that a Court of Appeals panel will hear oral ...

TOPEKA—Chief Justice Marla Luckert has issued five administrative orders to give updated direction to Kansas courts and court users as courts continue to gradually conduct more in-person proceedings and increase the number and types of service delivered to the people of Kansas.

“We want people coming into our courthouses ...

TOPEKA – Today, after considering the National Conference of Bar Examiners May 5, 2020, announcement that it will make a Uniform Bar Examination available for July, the Kansas Supreme Court affirmed its

TOPEKA—Eight more district courts will resume issuing marriage licenses using a process that doesn't require in-person contact.

District courts in Barton, Leavenworth, Lyon, Miami, Pawnee, Reno, Saline, and Thomas counties will begin processing new marriage license applications starting Wednesday, May 13.

Applicants ...

TOPEKA—The Kansas judicial branch plan to launch a new centralized case management system in six more judicial districts in June is delayed.

Statewide orders limiting in-person contact during the COVID-19 pandemic prevented in-person training and data review by district court staff, both of which are needed before the transition ...

TOPEKA—The 10th Judicial District Nominating Commission is seeking nominations to fill a district judge vacancy in Johnson County created by District Judge Sara Welch’s July 1 retirement.

The 10th Judicial District is composed of Johnson County.

Justice Evelyn Wilson, the Supreme Court departmental justice ...

TOPEKA—For the first time in its history, Kansas Court of Appeals judges will appear remotely to hear oral argument by videoconference at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 12. The oral arguments will be livestreamed on YouTube.

"Kansas courts are committed to ...

Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Marla Luckert is accepting public comment until noon Wednesday, May 20, 2020, on next steps related to current orders suspending deadlines and time limitations in judicial proceedings.

Authority

Chief Justice Luckert used authority granted in 2020 House Substitute for Senate Bill 102 ...

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court announced today the 10th Judicial District will join the state's other judicial districts and the appellate courts on a new centralized case management system that will transform the way state courts serve the people of Kansas.

"In the interest of what's best for our state court system ...

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court appointed Christina Lucas, municipal court administrator for the city of Pittsburg, to fill an unexpired term on the Municipal Court Clerks Education Committee. 

Lucas will serve until June 30, 2021. 

Lucas has been the municipal court administrator for the city of Pittsburg ...

TOPEKA—The 10th Judicial District Nominating Commission will convene by videoconference at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 7, to discuss the nomination process for selecting a district judge to fill a vacancy created by District Judge Sara Welch’s July 1 retirement.

The agenda includes discussing procedural matters and the timeline ...

TOPEKA—Chief Justice Marla Luckert today issued six new administrative orders to provide updated direction to state courts and court users as the state slowly reopens following a plan outlined by the governor Thursday evening.

“These orders continue some of the strategies put in place at the beginning of this pandemic ...

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court appointed Christopher Garcia to the Kansas Lawyers Assistance Program board.

Garcia, a Wichita lawyer, will serve a term ending June 30, 2025.

Garcia has practiced criminal law since 1997 and has specialized in working with alcoholics and addicts since 2001. He has been the defense ...

TOPEKA — Chief Justice Marla Luckert reappointed Jerome Hellmer, a retired judge, to the Kansas Government Ethics Commission.

Hellmer’s ...

TOPEKA—Chief Justice Marla Luckert appointed Amber Smith as her designee on the Kansas Criminal Justice Coordinating Council.

Smith succeeds Justice ...

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court appointed Chief Judge Preston Pratt of the 17th Judicial District to fill an unexpired term on the Kansas Board of ...

TOPEKA—Successful applicants to the February 2020 Kansas bar examination will be sworn in as Kansas attorneys today.

Because the Kansas Judicial Center is closed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the attorneys will be sworn in by videoconference.

Chief Justice Marla Luckert of the Supreme Court and Chief Judge Julie ...

TOPEKA—Chief Justice Marla Luckert appointed Spence Koehn to fill unexpired terms on two Kansas commissions.

Koehn joined the Kansas Supreme Court's Office of Judicial Administration in March as court services officer specialist. He will serve on the Kansas Sentencing Commission and the Kansas Criminal Justice Reform ...

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court appointed Vanessa Dudley-Miller to an unexpired term on the Supreme Court Task Force on Permanency Planning.

Dudley-Miller, Topeka, is executive director of Kansas Court Appointed Special Advocates. Her term ends June 30, 2023.

The Supreme Court established the working task force in 1984. ...

Remote process will serve marriage license applicants statewide.

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court announced today that its Office of Judicial Administration worked with judicial districts to create a process that will allow some district courts to resume issuing marriage licenses while ...

TOPEKA—Today the Kansas Supreme Court announced guidance for bar exam applicants, law schools, and legal employers to let them know what to anticipate in the coming weeks as the state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic ...

TOPEKA—Chief Judge E. Leigh Hood of the 16th Judicial District will retire June 1 after nearly 20 years of service.

He was elected a district ...

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court has appointed District Judge Laura Lewis as chief judge of the 16th Judicial District effective June 1 through December 31 ...

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court issued three administrative orders today that change deadlines and other requirements for annual attorney registration and continuing legal education reporting.
 
“The social distancing needed to reduce the spread of COVID-19 created unexpected challenges for attorneys who were ...

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court today issued two new administrative orders to add direction to courts and clarity to court users about how courts function during the COVID-19 pandemic response.

“The need to reduce in-person contact as much as possible is paramount to our state’s COVID-19 response,” said Chief ...

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court today issued Administrative Order 2020-RL-027 to temporarily allow file-stamped copies of documents to be used when docketing an appeal instead of certified copies normally required under

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court released Administrative Order 2020-PR-024 today to clarify the emergency operations imposed by earlier administrative orders.

Previous orders had allowed courts to enter emergency protection from abuse and protection from stalking ...

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court today issued Administrative Order 2020-PR-016 directing all district and appellate courts to cease all but emergency operations until further order.

The only exception is jury trials that are currently under ...

TOPEKA—The Kansas Court of Appeals has canceled oral arguments in March and April.

The ...

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court issued Administrative Order 2020-PR-015 restricting access to the Kansas Judicial Center; outlining a self-quarantine policy for employees and judges; and canceling travel, conferences, and training organized by or ...

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court has canceled a hearing and associated events scheduled for April 7 and 8 in Concordia in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The members of the court regret that we must postpone our planned April visit to Concordia, but we believe we have adopted the prudent public health course in the middle ...

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court today issued an administrative order outlining Kansas judicial branch policy in response to the current coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The order is 2020-PR-013.

The order outlines:

• anticipated personnel issues;

• notices to the public; andcontinuity of operations plans.

TOPEKA—District Judge Mike Ward will retire March 7 from the 13th Judicial District but then begin work as a senior judge for the Kansas judicial branch.

"It has been my great honor ...

TOPEKA—The 3rd Judicial District Nominating Commission sent the names of four nominees for district judge to Gov. Laura Kelly, who has 60 days to decide who will fill the vacancy created when Chief Judge Evelyn Wilson left her position to become a Supreme Court justice.

The 3rd Judicial District is composed of Shawnee County.

Judicial districts whose residents have voted to adopt a nonpartisan method for selecting judges have a judicial nominating commission that accepts nominations and interviews nominees.

In the event of a district judge vacancy, the nominating commission forwards the names of finalists to the governor, who appoints a replacement.

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TOPEKA—Kansas Court of Appeals Judge Steve Leben will leave the court June 26 ...

TOPEKA―The Kansas ...

TOPEKA—The 25th Judicial District Nominating Commission has selected Timothy R. Woods, a Dodge City lawyer, to fill a magistrate judge vacancy in Finney County.

The commission conducted public interviews of nominees for the position February 7 in Garden City. Six people had applied for the opening.

Woods' new ...

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court will conduct a special evening session April 7 in Concordia as part of its ongoing outreach to familiarize people with the Kansas judiciary.

Supreme Court traveling docket

The court will be in session from 6:30 p.m ...

TOPEKA—The 3rd Judicial District Nominating Commission will convene at 8:30 a.m. Friday, February 28, to interview 10 nominees to fill a district judge vacancy created when Chief Judge Evelyn Wilson left her position to become a justice of the Kansas Supreme Court on January 24.

The commission will meet in the Shawnee County ...

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court will meet in special session at 2 p.m. Friday, January 24, to swear in Evelyn Wilson as the newest ...

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court has appointed District Judge Richard Anderson as chief judge of the 3rd Judicial District ...

TOPEKA— Chief Judge Jeffrey Gettler of the 14th Judicial District has been appointed to sit with the Kansas Supreme Court ...

TOPEKA—District Judge John Weingart of the 22nd Judicial District has been appointed to sit with the Kansas Supreme Court to ...

TOPEKA―The Kansas Supreme Court issued an order today dismissing a case brought by several trial judges and a court employee against the Kansas Legislature asking the court to compel the Legislature to fully fund the judicial branch's budget requests in fiscal years 2020 and 2021.

In making its ruling, the court looked to similar ...

TOPEKA—The 25th Judicial District Nominating Commission will convene Friday, February 7, to interview nominees to fill a district magistrate judge vacancy in Finney County.

The vacancy was created when District Magistrate Judge Christopher Sanders was named to succeed District Judge Michael Quint, who retired December 27.

TOPEKA — The Supreme Court Nominating Commission today voted on the names of three nominees for Supreme Court justice to send to Gov. Laura Kelly.

Because the governor's office is closed today due to weather and Monday due to a state holiday, the official delivery of the nominees names to the governor will take place Tuesday. ...

TOPEKA—The 12th Judicial District Nominating Commission has selected Regine Thompson to fill a magistrate judge vacancy in Republic County.

The commission conducted public interviews of nominees for the position January 16 in Belleville. Three people had applied for the opening.

The vacancy was created by the ...

TOPEKA—The 11th Judicial District Nominating Commission has sent the names of three nominees for district judge to Gov. Laura Kelly, who has 60 days to decide who will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Jeffry Jack.

The 11th Judicial District is composed of Cherokee, Crawford, and Labette counties.

The ...

TOPEKA—The 3rd Judicial District Nominating Commission is seeking nominations to fill a district judge vacancy in Shawnee County created when Chief Judge Evelyn Wilson leaves her position to become a justice of the Kansas Supreme Court on January 24.

Justice Caleb Stegall, the Supreme Court departmental justice responsible for ...

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court will meet in special session at 2 p.m. Friday, January 24, to swear in Evelyn Wilson, who is ...

TOPEKA —The longest-tenured judge to serve on the Kansas Court of Appeals will retire April 3.

Judge ...