A basic knowledge of Kansas courts can be beneficial if you ever find yourself in the courtroom. All too often individuals and businesses find the need to file a lawsuit, or are at the receiving end of a lawsuit, and their lack of knowledge on how the court system works leaves them lost in the proceedings. Regardless of the circumstances that put you there, it doesn’t hurt to understand the court process.

It’s important to know that there are multiple courts in each state that handle different types of cases. Each of these courts has a judge that administer the law and case process. When considering courts in the state of Kansas, keep the following in mind:

1. Kansas municipal courts handle ordinance violations for individual cities, such as health code violations at a local restaurant.

2. You can search KS state court records to obtain information on the progress of a case.

3. Appellate courts hear appeals filed on decisions made in the state courts in Kansas.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Handle your ordinance violation through municipal courts in Kansas

There is a municipal court in 393 Kansas cities. Kansas municipal courts mainly handle traffic and parking violations that occur within the city limits. For example, if you should get a speeding ticket in the city limits of Wichita, then your case will be in the Witchita municipal court (district courts handle violations outside the city limits). Each individual court maintains local rules, which you can access through court websites. Municipal courts in Kansas also handle cases involving a DWI or DUI charge, and maintain exclusive jurisdiction in cases involving ordinance violations.

I recommend: Link to websites for municipal courts in Kansas through the Kansas Judicial Branch. The City of Wichita Municipal Court, like most, provides a list of local court rules.

Locate district Kansas courts

There are 31 districts of the Kansas state courts. Each district contains one to seven counties and each county contains a district court. These district (trial) courts in KS handle traffic violations that occur outside the jurisdiction of city municipal courts. Additionally, district courts have exclusive jurisdiction in civil matters, domestic relations, juvenile cases, criminal cases and small claims up to $4,000. You can search Kansas state court records online, but you must purchase a subscription to do so.

I recommend: Subscribe to Kansas.gov and then click on the “District Court Records” icon in the top navigation bar to look through state of Kansas public court records. Obtain contact information and website links for state courts in Kansas through the Kansas Judicial Branch website. Download forms to assist you in your case from the Johnson County Kansas Law Library.

File an appeal with the Supreme Court and Kansas Court of Appeals

The Supreme Court and Kansas appeals court hear only appellate cases. The purpose of an appellate court is to review the trial transcript and original evidence of a case to determine if there were any errors in the original case decision. There are no witnesses, jurors or new evidence in a case heard before the Kansas appellate court justices and their decisions are final. The Kansas Court of Appeals hears criminal appeals and appeals filed on decisions made by municipal courts, in addition to any cases appointed by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court maintains discretionary jurisdiction in all appellate cases.

I recommend: Obtain current and previous appellate court cases through the Kansas Judicial Branch. For detailed information on the structure of Kansas state courts, including both appellate courts, visit Public Records Information.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Regardless of how much knowledge you have of KS courts, you should hire an attorney who specializes in your specific type of case to represent you.