Chapter 20 — COURTS

20-212. Sale of courts of appeals reports and Wyandotte constitutional convention proceedings. The state law librarian is authorized and directed to sell the Kansas courts of appeals reports and proceedings and debates of the Wyandotte constitutional convention now in his hands a…

20-213. Sale of reports; disposition of moneys; library report fee fund. The state law librarian shall remit all moneys received by or for such librarian from the sale of reports of the supreme court and from the sale of court of appeals reports to the state treasurer in accordan…

20-214. History: L. 1889, ch. 247, § 6; R.S. 1923, 20-214; L. 1943, ch. 269, § 8; L. 1965, ch. 213, § 3; Repealed, L. 1970, ch. 118, § 7; July 1. Source or Prior Law: L. 1874, ch. 104, § 8. Previous | Next LEGISLATIVE COORDINATING COUNCIL General Policies 2026 Archived LCC Docume…

[Repealed or reserved.]

20-301. District court in each county; jurisdiction. There shall be in each county a district court, which shall be a court of record, and shall have general original jurisdiction of all matters, both civil and criminal, unless otherwise provided by law, and also shall have such …

20-301a. Classes of judges; judge of the district court defined; jurisdiction, power and authority. There shall be two classes of judges of the district courts established pursuant to K.S.A. 20-301: District judges and district magistrate judges. As used in this act, "judge of th…

20-301b. Judge required in each county. In each county of this state there shall be at least one judge of the district court who is a resident of and has the judge's principal office in that county. History: L. 1983, ch. 105, § 12; L. 1984, ch. 111, § 1; July 1. Previous | Next L…

20-302. District judges; power and authority. The district judge provided for in the Kansas constitution shall have and exercise the full judicial power and authority of a district court. History: G.S. 1868, ch. 28, § 2; R.S. 1923, 20-302; L. 1965, ch. 214, § 1; L. 1976, ch. 146,…

20-302a. History: L. 1976, ch. 146, § 12; L. 1980, ch. 94, § 4; Repealed, L. 1986, ch. 115, § 105; January 12, 1987. CASE ANNOTATIONS 1. Cited; important public questions justify exercise of supreme court original jurisdiction in mandamus to enforce lease agreement. Manhattan Bui…

20-302b. District magistrate judges; jurisdiction, powers and duties; record; appeals. (a) Subject to assignment pursuant to K.S.A. 20-329, and amendments thereto, a district magistrate judge shall have the jurisdiction and power, in any case in which a violation of the laws of t…

20-302c. History: L. 1976, ch. 146, § 13; L. 1977, ch. 112, § 2; L. 1979, ch. 92, § 12; L. 1979, ch. 80, § 2; L. 1983, ch. 140, § 3; L. 1984, ch. 39, § 31; L. 1985, ch. 115, § 30; L. 1986, ch. 115, § 32; L. 1986, ch. 137, § 1; L. 1986, ch. 137, § 2; L. 1990, ch. 212, § 1; L. 1992…

20-302d. History: L. 1976, ch. 146, § 13; L. 1977, ch. 112, § 2; L. 1979, ch. 92, § 12; L. 1979, ch. 80, § 2; L. 1983, ch. 140, § 3; L. 1984, ch. 39, § 31; L. 1985, ch. 115, § 30; L. 1986, ch. 115, § 32; L. 1986, ch. 137, § 1; L. 1986, ch. 137, § 2; L. 1990, ch. 212, § 1; L. 1992…

20-302e. History: L. 1976, ch. 146, § 13; L. 1977, ch. 112, § 2; L. 1979, ch. 92, § 12; L. 1979, ch. 80, § 2; L. 1983, ch. 140, § 3; L. 1984, ch. 39, § 31; L. 1985, ch. 115, § 30; L. 1986, ch. 115, § 32; L. 1986, ch. 137, § 1; L. 1986, ch. 137, § 2; L. 1990, ch. 212, § 1; L. 1992…

20-303. Seal. The secretary of state shall furnish each county organized for judicial purposes, a seal for the district court, which shall contain the words, "District court, ______ county, Kansas," inserting the name of the county —which seal shall remain in the custody of the c…

20-304. History: L. 1885, ch. 11, § 1; R.S. 1923, 20-304; Repealed, L. 1937, ch. 205, § 2; June 30. CASE ANNOTATIONS 1. Divorce action; application to disqualify trial judge properly denied by him. Leverenz v. Leverenz, 183 Kan. 79, 84, 325 P.2d 354. Previous | Next LEGISLATIVE C…

20-304a. Sealed instruments validated. That all official instruments to which the seal of the district court of any county in this state has been attached by the proper official, wherein the said seal purports to be the seal of the clerk of the district court instead of the seal …

20-305. History: G.S. 1868, ch. 28, § 4; L. 1901, ch. 151, § 1; R.S. 1923, 20-305; Repealed, L. 1976, ch. 146, § 48; January 10, 1977. Source or Prior Law: L. 1861, ch. 22, § 6. CASE ANNOTATIONS 1. When second judge pro tem may be selected. Davis v. Wilson, 11 Kan. 74. 2. Prejudi…

20-306. History: G.S. 1868, ch. 28, § 5; R.S. 1923, 20-306; L. 1933, ch. 168, § 1; Repealed, L. 1976, ch. 146, § 48; January 10, 1977. Source or Prior Law: L. 1861, ch. 22, § 6. CASE ANNOTATIONS 1. Judge pro tem selected by parties in interest. City of Wellington v. Wellington To…

20-307. History: G.S. 1868, ch. 28, § 6; R.S. 1923, 20-307; Repealed, L. 1976, ch. 146, § 48; January 10, 1977. Source or Prior Law: L. 1861, ch. 22, § 6. CASE ANNOTATIONS 1. Agreement of litigants appointing judge pro tem and fixing his compensation upheld. McCleery v. McCleery …

20-308. History: G.S. 1868, ch. 28, § 7; R.S. 1923, 20-308; Repealed, L. 1976, ch. 146, § 48; January 10, 1977. Source or Prior Law: L. 1861, ch. 22, § 6. CASE ANNOTATIONS 1. Judgment not void for failure to take oath. In re Hewes, 62 Kan. 288, 62 P. 673; Chandler v. Chandler, 92…

20-309. History: G.S. 1868, ch. 28, § 8; L. 1911, ch. 155, § 1; R.S. 1923, 20-309; L. 1933, ch. 168, § 2; L. 1957, ch. 200, § 1; Repealed, L. 1976, ch. 146, § 48; January 10, 1977. Source or Prior Law: L. 1861, ch. 22, § 6. CASE ANNOTATIONS 1. Judge pro tem may sign bills of exce…

20-310. History: L. 1923, ch. 121, § 1; R.S. 1923, 20-310; Repealed, L. 1976, ch. 146, § 48; January 10, 1977. Previous | Next LEGISLATIVE COORDINATING COUNCIL General Policies 2026 Archived LCC Documents Archived LCC Meetings REVISOR OF STATUTES Archived Session Documents Archiv…

20-310a. Appointments of judges pro tem; power and authority; compensation; reporting requirements. (a) Subject to the budget limitations of the district court, the chief judge of any judicial district may appoint a judge pro tem within such judicial district: (1) For good cause …

20-310b. Temporary judges. (a) Upon stipulation of the parties to an action, the court may order the action to be heard and determined by a temporary judge who is a retired justice of the supreme court, retired judge of the court of appeals or retired judge of the district court.…

20-311. Disqualification of judge to sit in certain cases. In any contested civil or criminal case before a district court of this state, if any attorney of record or any party to such case is related, by blood or marriage to the judge before whom the same is pending, as a spouse…

20-311a. History: L. 1935, ch. 149, § 1; Repealed, L. 1965, ch. 215, § 7; June 30. Cross References to Related Sections: Later act, see 20-318, 20-319. CASE ANNOTATIONS 1. Cited in referring to presiding judge in criminal case. State v. Stiff, 148 Kan. 224, 225, 80 P.2d 1089. Reh…

20-311b. History: L. 1935, ch. 149, § 2; Repealed, L. 1965, ch. 215, § 7; June 30. Cross References to Related Sections: Later act, see 20-318 through 20-323. Previous | Next LEGISLATIVE COORDINATING COUNCIL General Policies 2026 Archived LCC Documents Archived LCC Meetings REVIS…

20-311c. History: L. 1949, ch. 225, § 1; Repealed, L. 1965, ch. 215, § 7; June 30. Cross References to Related Sections: Later act, see 20-318, 20-319. Previous | Next LEGISLATIVE COORDINATING COUNCIL General Policies 2026 Archived LCC Documents Archived LCC Meetings REVISOR OF S…

20-311d. Change of judge; procedure; grounds. (a) If a party or a party's attorney believes that the judge to whom an action is assigned cannot afford that party a fair trial in the action, the party or attorney may file a motion for change of judge. The motion shall not state th…

20-311e. Same; punishment for contempt prohibited. No judge or court shall punish for contempt anyone making, filing or presenting the affidavit provided for by K.S.A. 20-311d or any motion founded thereon. History: L. 1971, ch. 198, § 4; July 1. Law Review and Bar Journal Refere…

20-311f. Same; limitations. No party shall be granted more than one change of judge in any action, but each party shall be heard to urge such party's objections to a judge in the first instance, except that in prejudgment matters a party may move for a change of judge in accordan…

20-311g. Severability. If any provision of this act or the application thereof is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of the act which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of thi…

20-312. History: L. 1927, ch. 177, § 1; L. 1973, ch. 131, § 1; Repealed, L. 1976, ch. 146, § 48; January 10, 1977. CASE ANNOTATIONS 1. Failure of bailiff to take proper oath and other improper actions held reversible error. State v. Palmer, 173 Kan. 560, 568, 571, 251 P.2d 225. 2…

20-313. History: L. 1927, ch. 177, § 2; L. 1951, ch. 244, § 1; L. 1965, ch. 216, § 1; L. 1971, ch. 100, § 1; L. 1973, ch. 131, § 2; Repealed, L. 1976, ch. 146, § 48; January 10, 1977. Previous | Next LEGISLATIVE COORDINATING COUNCIL General Policies 2026 Archived LCC Documents Ar…

20-313a. History: L. 1973, ch. 131, § 5; Repealed, L. 1975, ch. 182, § 1; July 1. Previous | Next LEGISLATIVE COORDINATING COUNCIL General Policies 2026 Archived LCC Documents Archived LCC Meetings REVISOR OF STATUTES Archived Session Documents Archived School Finance Documents U…

20-314. History: L. 1947, ch. 234, § 1; L. 1973, ch. 131, § 3; Repealed, L. 1976, ch. 146, § 48; January 10, 1977. Previous | Next LEGISLATIVE COORDINATING COUNCIL General Policies 2026 Archived LCC Documents Archived LCC Meetings REVISOR OF STATUTES Archived Session Documents Ar…

20-317. History: L. 1947, ch. 234, § 4; L. 1953, ch. 171, § 1; L. 1973, ch. 131, § 4; Repealed, L. 1976, ch. 146, § 48; January 10, 1977. Previous | Next LEGISLATIVE COORDINATING COUNCIL General Policies 2026 Archived LCC Documents Archived LCC Meetings REVISOR OF STATUTES Archiv…

20-317a. History: L. 1969, ch. 201, § 10; L. 1972, ch. 153, § 10; L. 1973, ch. 175, § 11; Repealed, L. 1976, ch. 146, § 48; January 10, 1977. Source or Prior Law: 28-829, 28-913. Previous | Next LEGISLATIVE COORDINATING COUNCIL General Policies 2026 Archived LCC Documents Archive…

20-318. Judicial department created; division of state into departments; justices assigned to departments; position of judicial administrator created; appointment, compensation and duties of administrator. (a) There is hereby created within the state of Kansas a judicial departme…

20-318a. Training for attorneys and judges who work in juvenile court. (a) The office of judicial administration shall designate or develop a training protocol for judges, county and district attorneys and defense attorneys who work in juvenile court. (b) The office of judicial a…

20-319. Powers and duties of departmental justices; reports and information. (a) A justice assigned to each department shall: (1) With the help and assistance of the judicial administrator, make a survey of the conditions of the dockets and business of the district courts in the …

20-320. Duties of chief justice; records and report. The chief justice shall analyze and study such reports as are submitted to him and promptly submit a summary thereof, and the recommendations of the judicial departments and judicial administrators, and shall cause a copy of al…

20-321. Rules and regulations; assistants. The chief justice of the supreme court and each judicial department justice shall adopt such rules and regulations as they may deem necessary to carry out the provisions of this article, and shall assign such duties and shall appoint suc…

20-322. Citation of act. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "judicial department reform act of 1965." History: L. 1965, ch. 215, § 5; June 30. CASE ANNOTATIONS 1. Act does not violate any provision of Kansas Constitution. State v. Schroeder, 201 Kan. 811, 823, 443 P.…

20-323. Act supplemental to existing laws. This act shall be construed as supplemental to existing statutes pertaining to the selection or appointment of a judge pro tem of the district court. History: L. 1965, ch. 215, § 6; June 30. CASE ANNOTATIONS 1. Act does not violate any p…

20-324. Revisor's Note: This section previously contained rules of the supreme court. Rules of the supreme court relating to the supreme court, court of appeals and appellate practice are now published by the Supreme Court Reporter, Kansas Judicial Center, 301 West 10th, Topeka, …

20-325. History: L. 1968, ch. 385, § 31; Repealed, L. 2007, ch. 190, § 19; July 1. Previous | Next LEGISLATIVE COORDINATING COUNCIL General Policies 2026 Archived LCC Documents Archived LCC Meetings REVISOR OF STATUTES Archived Session Documents Archived School Finance Documents …

20-326. Revisor's Note: This section previously contained rules of the supreme court. Rules of the supreme court relating to district courts are now published by the Supreme Court Reporter, Kansas Judicial Center, 301 West 10th, Topeka, Kansas 66612-1507. Previous | Next LEGISLAT…

20-327. Terms of judges. All judges of district courts elected under the provisions of this act* shall be elected for terms of four years and until their successors are elected and qualified. History: L. 1968, ch. 385, § 32; March 30. Revisor's Note: * The phrase "this act" means…

20-328. Pending actions and proceedings. All actions and proceedings pending in the district court of any county at the time any judicial district is abolished and a new district established under the provisions of this act*, whether the issues are joined or not, shall proceed in…