Comprehensive review of court system announced

TOPEKA—Chief Justice Lawton R. Nuss today announced the Supreme court is undertaking the first comprehensive review of the administration and efficiency of the Kansas courts since the 1974 Kansas Judicial Study Advisory Committee study that led to unification of state courts in 1977.

“For the first time in Kansas history, court-by-court caseloads will be studied by experts from the National Center for State Courts to make recommendations regarding judicial and non-judicial staffing statewide,” Nuss said. He explained, “The caseloads will be examined by both number and “weight,” which considers such things as the complexity of cases and the driving time needed to handle cases in the state’s rural areas.”

Today’s announcement followed several weeks of meetings by the justices of the Supreme Court with personnel in their judicial departments. Their meetings with judges and court staff in communities throughout the state are also believed to be the first of their kind in Kansas legal history.

There are approximately 266 judge positions and 1,589 non-judicial positions authorized for the Kansas state courts. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010, Kansas state courts handled 517,968 cases, which included 177,029 traffic cases. Once the weighted caseloads are examined, the National Center for State Courts will submit its findings to the Supreme Court. Nuss said that two committees of Kansas Judicial Branch personnel have been appointed by the Supreme Court to assist the National Center: one of judges and one of court staff.

Chief Justice Nuss said the new committees reflect the wide diversity of Kansas communities and judicial districts. He said the findings may suggest improvements for the Kansas court system and ways to make better use of taxpayer money.

Named to the Judicial Needs Assessment Committee are:

• Hon. David King, Chief Judge,1st Judicial District, Chair

• Hon. Edward Bouker, Chief Judge, 23rd Judicial District

• Hon. Cheryl Rios Kingfisher, District Judge, 3rd Judicial District

• Hon. Kim Cudney, Chief Judge, 12th Judicial District

• Hon. R. Wayne Lampson, Chief Judge, 29th Judicial District

• Hon. Daniel Creitz, District Judge, 31st Judicial District+

• Hon. Thomas Foster, Chief Judge, 10th Judicial District

• Hon. Jeff Goering, District Judge, 18th Judicial District

• Hon. Merlin Wheeler, Chief Judge, 5th Judicial District

• Hon. Robert Frederick, District Judge, 25th Judicial District

• Hon. Ann Dixson, District Magistrate Judge, 16th Judicial District

• Hon. Mary Thrower, District Magistrate Judge, 28th Judicial District

• Hon. James Kepple, District Magistrate Judge, 24th Judicial District

• Hon. Richard Smith, Chief Judge, 6th Judicial District

Named to the Staffing Needs Assessment Committee are:

• Todd Heitschmidt, Court Administrator, 28th Judicial District

• Lea Dawn Throckmorton, Chief Clerk, 12th Judicial District

• Alice Adams, Clerk of District Court, 8th Judicial District

• Angie Callahan, Clerk of the District Court, 3rd Judicial District

• Kathleen Collins, Clerk of the District Court, 29th Judicial District

• Vicki Mills, Clerk of the District Court, 4th Judicial District

• Mary Kadel, Court Administrator, 14th Judicial District

• Ellen House, Court Administrator, 18th Judicial District

• John Isern, Court Administrator, 20th Judicial District

• Christine Blake, Clerk of the District Court, 25th Judicial District

• Pam Moses, Chief Clerk, 27th Judicial District

• Kelley Grisier, Clerk of the District Court, 31st Judicial District

• Donna Hoener-Queal, Chief Court Services Officer, 30th Judicial District

• Lori Coleman, Court Reporter/Administrative Assistant, 21st Judicial District