TOPEKA—In what is believed to be a historical first in Kansas, Chief Justice Lawton R. Nuss today announced the Supreme Court will travel to Salina April 13 to hear appeals in four matters pending before the Court. The Court has never presided over cases in locations other than Topeka, historical records show.
The sessions, which will be conducted beginning at 1:30 P.M. in Room 107 in the Salina City County Building, are part of an on-going judicial outreach program in which the justices are reaching out to Kansas citizens across the state to educate and inform them of the operations of their highest court.
Besides being open to the public, the oral arguments will be audio-streamed via the judicial branch website, www.kscourts.org. Additionally, a brochure explaining the high court's procedures and operations, as well as summaries of the matters on appeal, are available at the courthouse and will be distributed at the afternoon-long session.
"Besides educating the public on the work of the Supreme Court, we want to better educate ourselves on the operations and needs of the local courts, so that together we can better serve our citizens," Chief Justice Nuss said.
In another historical first, the Supreme Court will be gaveled in by a woman. Rita McLain, Salina, judicial assistant to Chief Judge Jerome Hellmer, will serve as the Court's bailiff for the court session. And for two of the justices, Hon. Nancy L. Moritz and Chief Justice Nuss, the Salina sessions will be a return to their roots as both graduated from high school there.
Besides the seven justices, area District Judges Benjamin Sexton, Abilene, and Hannelore Kitts, Great Bend, will join them to hear one of the cases and later participate in the decision and opinion writing process. They will be sitting in place of Justices Nancy Moritz and Carol A. Beier, who have recused, to hear arguments in the appeal of a workers' compensation case.
The Supreme Court's outreach program was launched last summer when the justices traveled across the state to conduct departmental meetings with their assigned local judges from each of the state's 31 judicial districts. Following those meetings, the Court appointed two committees of judges and judicial branch employees to coordinate performance of a weighted case load study. The Court also appointed a Blue Ribbon Commission of citizens to study court operations and make recommendations for improvements in access and administration of justice in Kansas. "Commission members will conduct a series of 18 public hearings throughout the state to hear concerns and suggestions for improving court operations locally and statewide," Chief Justice Nuss said.
"We have authorized the Blue Ribbon Commission to consider such issues as the number of court locations needed to provide access to justice, the services to be provided in each court location, hours of operation, appropriate use of technology, cost containment or reductions, and flexibility in the use of human resources," he said. "However, the Commission is not limited to those subjects and has the authority to review other operational efficiencies associated with the court system."
"The Commission's upcoming public hearings and our travel to Salina are two major components of the judicial outreach program," the chief justice said. He added that the results of the weighted caseload study will be taken into consideration when the Blue Ribbon Commission makes its recommendations.
In addition to oral arguments scheduled for the afternoon of April 13, the Court will meet informally with judges and attorneys during their stay in Salina. Cases being argued that afternoon include three criminal cases and an appeal in a workers' compensation case. After the oral arguments are concluded that afternoon, the appeals will be taken under advisement with decisions to be filed later in the office of the Clerk of Appellate Courts.