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Kansas State Courts

Courts – State Courts – Kansas

Highest Court

Supreme Court
The Supreme Court consists of 7 judges. It has jurisdiction over (1) Exclusive appellate jurisdiction in serious felonies. (2) Exclusive original jurisdiction in any suite in law or equity, and any controversy relating to the apportionment of representation in the state legislature. (3) Exclusive appellate jurisdiction in cases where a statute of Kansas or of the United States has been held unconstitutional. (4) Appellate jurisdiction by right of constitutional issues previously decided by the Court of Appeals. (5) Discretionary appellate jurisdiction over all decision made by the Court of Appeals.

Intermediate Courts

Court of Appeals
The Court of Appeals consists of 11 judges. It has jurisdiction over (1) All appeals from District Court except those reviewable by the District Court or in which direct appeal to the Supreme Court is possible. (2) Writs of habeas corpus.

General Courts

District Court
The District Court consists of 233 district and 74 district magistrate judges. It has jurisdiction over (1) General original jurisdiction in all civil matters. (2) General original jurisdiction in all criminal matters unless provided by law. (3) Juvenile jurisdiction. (4) Appeals from Magistrate judge may be heard by District judges. (5) Appeals from Municipal Court and Administrative Agencies.

Limited Courts

Municipal Court
The Municipal Court consists of 257 judges. It has jurisdiction over (1) City ordinance violations (less than one year imprisonment) including traffic.
No jury trials are overseen by this court.

Additional Information

Terms
The Supreme Court shall convene annually at the state capital on the first Tuesday in January and the first Tuesday in July. Special and adjourned terms may be held at the discretion of a majority of the judges.  However, a notice of the time of a special or adjourned term must be published in the Kansas register. (Kansas Statute 20-102)

Adjournments
In a situation when the majority of the court is not in attendance on the first day of the term, the court shall stand adjourned for three succeeding day.  If, on the third day, the court has yet to convene, all pending matters shall stand continued until the next term, unless a special term be ordered and no action or matter shall abate or be discontinued thereby. (Kansas Statute 20-103).

Syllabus of case
The judge who delivered the opinion of a supreme court case shall file a brief written statement with the clerk including the points decided in the case.  These points shall constitute the syllabus in the published reports of the case. (Kansas Statute 20-111).

Chief judge; designation by supreme court; duties
The supreme court shall  select a district judge as a chief judge for each judicial district who will be supervised by the supreme court.  The chief judge shall have general control of the assignment of cases within the assigned district  The chief judge shall also be responsible for and have general supervision over the clerical and administrative functions over such court as established by statute or rule of the supreme court or district court. (Kansas Statute 20-329)

Powers, rights and authority of district judges in districts with more than one district judge
In judicial districts having more than one district judge, the district judge shall have the same rights, powers, and authority throughout the district as though that judge was the only judge of the district.  The powers, rights, and authority may be exercised by the district judges in the same or different counties in their district at the same time. (Kansas Statute 20-330)

Two classes of contempt
The contempts of court are divided into two classes: direct and indirect.  The contempts shall be proceeded against only as hereinafter prescribed. (Kansas Statute 20-1201)

Classes of contempts defined
Direct contempts are defined as the contempts committed during the sitting of the court or of a judge at chambers, in its or his/her presence.  All other contempts are non as indirect contempts.  (Kansas Statute 20-1202)

Same; joint law library; establishment and maintenance
A joint law library may be established and maintained in any suitable place or places when determined by election of  a majority of the attorneys of any county, with the mutual consent of a majority from any other county or counties.  The boards of county commissioners of the said counties shall provide, maintain, and equally share in the expense of keeping a library.  The trustees so elected shall determine which clerk of the district court shall act as treasurer.
No provisions of this act shall be construed to place the operation of any county law library established and maintained here under or under other enabling acts subject to any cash basis law of this state. (Kansas Statute 20-3132).


Inside Kansas State Courts