December 2020 News Releases

	12/31/2020 Timeline revised for expansion of centralized case management system TOPEKA—The Kansas judicial branch plan to launch a new centralized case management system in the 18th Judicial District has been delayed, but neighboring courts in the 13th Judicial District are expected to begin using the new system in February.While the centralized case management system is operational in eight judicial districts, there ...
	12/31/2020 Supreme Court adopts rule changes related to attorney discipline, Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court has adopted changes to the rules relating to the discipline of attorneys and the Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection, effective January 1, 2021.Attorney disciplineThe changes to rules relating to attorney discipline are extensive and overhaul the existing rules to align with other Supreme Court rules ...
	12/31/2020 9th Judicial District Nominating Commission announces interview schedule for magistrate judge vacancy 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 retirement.The 9th Judicial District is composed of Harvey and McPherson counties.Interview schedule 1:30 p.m.Ellen G. Neufeld, Inman ...
	12/30/2020 12th Judicial District Nominating Commission to interview nominees for judge vacancy TOPEKA—The 12th Judicial District Nominating Commission will convene January 22 to interview nominees to fill a district magistrate judge vacancy in Washington County created when Judge Paul Monty retires January 11.The 12th Judicial District is composed of Cloud, Jewell, Lincoln, Mitchell, Republic, and Washington counties.NomineesThe ...
	12/22/2020 10th Judicial District offices to close December 31 for move to new courthouse TOPEKA—Offices of the 10th Judicial District will be closed and there will be no remote hearings Thursday, December 31, to allow for the move to a new courthouse.The 10th Judicial District is composed of Johnson County.Offices also will be closed Friday, January 1, for the New Year's Day holiday.Beginning Monday, January 4, court offices ...
	12/21/2020 Chief Judge Gary Nafziger to retire after 38 years of service TOPEKA—Chief District Judge Gary Nafziger of the 2nd Judicial District will retire January 11 after 38 years of service.He became a district judge in 1982 and was appointed chief judge of the 2nd Judicial District in 2005. The district is composed of Jackson, Jefferson, Pottawatomie, and Wabaunsee counties."I'd like to express my ...
	12/21/2020 Amy Crawford-Coppola selected for district magistrate judge vacancy in Geary County TOPEKA—The 8th Judicial District Nominating Commission has selected Amy Crawford-Coppola to fill a magistrate judge vacancy in Geary County.The commission conducted public interviews of nominees for the position December 21 in Junction City. Six people had applied for the opening.Crawford-Coppola's new position will be effective on her ...
	12/18/2020 Kansas courts now accept marriage license applications online TOPEKA—Applying for a marriage license in Kansas is about to get easier and more convenient, thanks to a grant-funded project to move most of the process ...
	12/17/2020 8th Judicial District Nominating Commission amends interview schedule for judge vacancy in Geary County 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 January 11 retirement.The 8th Judicial District is composed of Dickinson, Geary, Marion, and Morris counties.Interview schedule9:30 a.m ...
	12/15/2020 Judicial branch data systems back online TOPEKA—Data systems that support court operations statewide are back online.Data systems had been taken offline last night to install a new server and complications prevented some of them from coming back online this morning as planned. Those issues are now resolved.Both Kansas Courts eFiling and the Kansas Public Access Portal are now online ...
	12/15/2020 Some Kansas judicial branch data systems remain offline 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 complications ...
	12/15/2020 Chief justice signs new administrative order continuing suspension of deadlines, time limitations 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 Administrative Order 2020-PR-130 follows the State Finance Council ...
	12/14/2020 1st Judicial District Nominating Commission sends names of four nominees for judge to governor 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 Bednar retires January 11.The 1st Judicial District is composed of Atchison and Leavenworth counties.The four nominees are:John J ...
	12/11/2020 Judicial branch data systems offline 6 p.m. Monday to 6 a.m. Tuesday 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:Kansas Courts eFiling. Efiled documents will ...
	12/11/2020 9th Judicial District Nominating Commission to interview nominees for magistrate judge vacancy 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 retirement.The 9th Judicial District is composed of Harvey and McPherson counties.NomineesThe nominees are:JoAn M. Hamilton Lindfors, ...
	12/11/2020 8th Judicial District Nominating Commission announces interview schedule for judge vacancy in Geary County 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 January 11 retirement.The 8th Judicial District is composed of Dickinson, Geary, Marion, and Morris counties.Interview schedule9:30 a.m ...
	12/10/2020 10th Judicial District Nominating Commission sends names of three nominees for judge to governor 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 of Johnson County.The three nominees are:Jenifer ...
	12/10/2020 Standridge to be sworn in as new Supreme Court justice December 14 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 Justice Marla Luckert will preside over the ceremony, which will take place by videoconference and be broadcast live on the Supreme Court YouTube channel.When the swearing-in ceremony concludes, Standridge ...
	12/02/2020 8th Judicial District Nominating Commission to interview nominees for district magistrate judge in Geary County 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 January 11 retirement.The 8th Judicial District is composed of Dickinson, Geary, Marion, and Morris counties.NomineesThe nominees to be ...
	12/02/2020 Retired Justice Tyler Lockett died November 28 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.Lockett was ...
	12/02/2020 Thomas County District Court offices to temporarily relocate 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 center being built ...
	12/01/2020 12th Judicial District Nominating Commission seeks nominees for magistrate judge vacancy 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 Monty retires January 11.The 12th Judicial District is composed of Cloud, Jewell, Lincoln, Mitchell, Republic, and Washington counties ...
	12/01/2020 Supreme Court issues updated COVID-19 policies and procedures 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 Luckert. "Today ...