August 2020 News Releases

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