1

CITIZEN’SGUIDETOTHEFIFTHJUDICIALDISTRICT,KANSAS

SUSANG.FOWLER,M.L.S.,C.L.I.M.,October2018edition

LinksandcontentreviewedforaccuracyMay2005,November2006,July2014

2

CITIZEN’SGUIDETOTHEFIFTHJUDICIALDISTRICT,KANSAS

TABLEOFCONTENTS

Caution ............................................................................................................................. 1Unbundling,orLimitedRepresentation ...................................................................... 1GettingStarted–theKansasCourtSystem.............................................................................2DrugCourt ....................................................................................................................... 4LyonCountyLawLibrary .............................................................................................. 5FederalCourts...........................................................................................................................6CivilandCriminalCases-Definitions......................................................................................6Civil&CriminalProcedures.....................................................................................................6Civil ................................................................................................................................... 6Criminal ........................................................................................................................... 7CourtRules................................................................................................................................7InternetResources .............................................................................................................. 8AmericanBarAssociation(ABA)ProSeResourceCenter ........................................ 8FindLaw ........................................................................................................................... 8NOLO ................................................................................................................................ 8

Appendix-LegalAssistance .............................................................................................. 9LyonCounty .................................................................................................................... 9

W

S

O

CITIZEN’SGUIDETOTHEFIFTHJUDICIALDISTRICT,KANSAS

hetheryouwishtorepresentyourselfincourtorsimplywantabetterunderstandingofthelocalcourtsystem,thisdocumentisforyou.Itoffersbrief explanationsofthelegalsystemandlinkstootherresourcesthatcanprovidemorein-depthinformationorservices.Useofthisdocumentshouldnotbeconstruedasreceivingprofessionallegaladvice.ToquoteNoloPress,“legalinformationisnotlegal advice.”

Cautionelf-representationinvolvesrisks.Itisyourresponsibilitytomakesurethatyoufollowcourtrules,useonlythemostcurrentformsandusethemproperly.Ifyoudoubtyourabilitytorepresentyourselfand/orneedaninterpretationofthelaw,seekprofessionallegalassistance.Manypeoplewanttorepresentthemselvesbecausetheythinktheycannotaffordanattorney.Kansasprovideslegalassistancetolowerincomeclients throughtheKansasLegalServices(KLS)andotheragencies.Seetheappendixforcontact information.

Unbundling,orLimitedRepresentationnetrendthatmayhelpthoseseekinghelpinself-representationiscalled‘unbundling,’or“limitedrepresentation.”Traditionally,attorneysservetheirclientsbyprovidingcompleteserviceforanygivenmatter.Todootherwiseisconsideredabreachofethicsandmay resultincensureandevendisbarment.Therefore,mostattorneysarehesitanttoprovide onlypartialservice–forexample,onlyreviewingformsfilledoutbyaclientandnot coveringeverystepoftheclient’slegalmatterprocess.

UnbundlingisacommonpracticeinCalifornia,ArizonaandMaryland.In1999,theKansasCitizensJusticeInitiativeCommitteerecommendedthattheKansasBarAssociationlookintothispractice.AsearchoftheKBAwebsitedidnotyieldanydiscussionorexplanationofthispracticeforKansasattorneys.However,itcouldbecomeanacceptedmeansofpracticeinthefuture.

SeeKansas’ModelRulesofProfessionalConduct(http://www.kscourts.org/rules/Rule-List.asp?r1=Rules+Relating+to+Discipline+of+Attorneys).

2 Fowler10/17/18

GettingStarted–theKansasCourtSystem1

hefirstcourt,andtheonemostpeoplefindthemselvesincontactwith,isthemunicipalcourt.Thiscourthandlesonlyviolationsofthecityordinancesthatoccurredwithinthecitylimits.Allothermattersare

referredtothedistrictcourt.ThemunicipalcourtforEmporiaisintheCivicAuditorium(6thAvenue&Mechanic).AccessisonthewestsideoftheAuditorium;meterparkingisavailableonMechanicStreet.

EntrancetoMunicipalCourtfromoutsidetheCivicAuditorium,lookingnorth.Personsappearinginmunicipalcourthavereceivedasummons,typicallyinthe

formofacitation.Yourcopyofthecitationhasinstructionsonwhenandwheretoappear.Failuretoappearincourtcanresultinawarrantbeingissuedforyourarrest.Whileyou havetherighttolegalcounsel,municipalcourtdoesnotprovidetrialbyjury.OnceyouenterthedoormarkedfortheMunicipalCourt,thissigndirectsyoutotheleft,wherethedoorisclearlymarked.

Thedistrictcourtactsastheappellatecourtforthemunicipalcourtswithinits

jurisdiction.Ithasjurisdictionoverallcivilandcriminalcases,includingdivorceanddomesticrelations,damagesuits,probateandadministrationofestates,guardianships, conservatorships,careofthementallyill,juvenilematters,andsmallclaims.Itisherethatcriminalandciviljurytrialsareheld.RulingsfromdistrictcourtsmaybeappealedtotheKansasCourtofAppealsortheStateSupremeCourt.

1source:YouandtheCourtsofKansas,KSJudicialBranchhttp://www.kscourts.org/kansas-courts/general-information/you-and-the-courts/courts.asp

T

3 Fowler10/17/18

Left:AcourtroomintheLyonCountyCourthouse;right:thecourtroomintheChaseCountyCourthouse.

TheKansasCourtofAppealsisanintermediateappellatecourt.TheCourtofAppealshearsallappealsfromordersoftheStateCorporationCommission,andallappealsfromthedistrictcourtsinbothcivilandcriminalcasesexceptthosethatmaybeappealeddirectlytotheSupremeCourt.Italsohasjurisdictionoveroriginalactionsinhabeas corpus.

TheCourtusuallysitsinpanelsofthreeinvariouslocationsacrossthestate.Hearingsarescheduled regularlyinHays,GardenCity,Wichita,Chanute,KansasCity,Olathe,andTopeka,andhearingshavealsobeenheldinothercitiesfortheconvenienceoftheparties.

TheKansasSupremeCourthearsdirectappealsfromthedistrictcourtsinthemostseriouscriminalcasesandappealsinanycaseinwhichastatutehasbeenheldunconstitutional.ItmayreviewcasesdecidedbytheCourtofAppeals,andmaytransfer casesfromthatcourttotheSupremeCourt.Italsohasoriginaljurisdictioninseveraltypesofcases.TheSupremeCourthasgeneraladministrativeauthorityoverallKansascourts.Its

rulesgovernappellatepractice intheSupremeCourtandtheCourtofAppeals,andproceduresinthedistrictcourts.SupremeCourtrulesalsoprovidefortheexaminationandadmissionofattorneys,setforththecodeofprofessionalresponsibilitythatgovernstheconductofattorneys,andincludethecanonsofjudicialethicsthatgoverntheconductofjudges.Rulesalsoprovidefortheexaminationandcertificationofofficialcourtreporters.TheSupremeCourtmaydisciplineattorneys,judgesandnonjudicialemployees.

FifthJudicialDistrictCourtTheFifthJudicialDistricthandlesdistrictcourtlevelcasesforLyonandChase

counties.ThecourthouseforLyonCountyisat430CommercialinEmporia.

OneoftwofrontentrancestotheLyonCountyCourthouse.TheentrancefromCommercialStreetishandicapaccessible.Onceyougothroughthesecurityscreening,youwillseethisdirectoryofcountyoffices.TheClerkoftheDistrictCourtofficeisonthesecondfloor,accessiblebystairsorelevator.

4 Fowler10/17/18

TheChaseCountycourthouseisinCottonwoodFalls,atthesouthendof“Broadway,”itsmaindowntownstreet.TheChaseCountycourthouseistheoldestoperatingcourthousewestoftheMississippi.Handicapaccessisavailableonthefarsouthendofthebuilding.Personswithphysicaldisabilitieswhoarerequiredtoappearincourtshouldcontactthedistrictcourtofficetomakearrangementsforaccessibility.

Asstatedearlier,theFifthJudicialDistrictCourthandlescivilandcriminalcases.Questionsfromthepublictypicallypertaintocivilmatterssuchasapplyingforamarriage license.Theclerksinthedistrictcourtofficecanprovideinformationaboutthepaperworkthatmustbefiled,buttheycannotofferadviceonhowtofilloutformsorotherwiseinterpretorapplythelawtoyoursituation.Pleasekeep inmindthattheclerksareresponsibleforprocessingcasefiles,notprovidinglegaladvice.

Left:ClerkoftheDistrictCourtofficeintheLyonCountyCourthouse;right:ClerkoftheDistrictCourtofficeintheChaseCountyCourthouse

Thedistrictcourtofficehasalimitedrangeofformsavailable.Otherformsare

availablethroughtheLyonCountyLawLibraryandonlineattheKansasJudicialCouncilwebsite,http://www.kansasjudicialcouncil.org/legal-forms.DrugCourt

ansasSenateBill123,effectiveNovember1,2003,changedthestate’spunishmentmethodoftreatingdrugoffenderstoatreatmentmodel.TheFifthJudicialDistrict’sdrugcourthasexperiencedsuccesswithparticipantssuccessfullycompletingtheir18-monthtreatmentprogram.Theprogramisuniqueinthatoffendersaresupervisedbycommunity

K

5 Fowler10/17/18correctionsstaffandprovidedanetworkofsupportinwhichtheoffenderisgivenopportunitytoleave theirsubstanceabuselifestyleandbecomeamemberofthemainstreamcommunity.

Seehttp://5thjd.org/drug-court/ forfurtherinformation.LyonCountyLawLibrary

ocatedonthethirdflooroftheLyonCountyCourthouse,thelawlibraryprovidesmaterialsandresearchassistancetoattorneylibrarymembers.Thelawlibrariancanassistmembersofthepublicwithlocatinglegalinformation

WednesdayandThursdaymorningsfrom9a.m.tonoon,orbyappointment.Checkoutprivilegesarerestrictedtoattorneylibrarymembersandcityandcountyofficials.

LView of the library door from the third floor hallway, just off the elevators.

1

Our print legal encyclopedias, Kansas cases and digests.

Muchofthecollectionisonline.However,duetobudgetrestraints,onlinedatabasefeaturesarelimited.

6 Fowler10/17/18

FederalCourts3Therearetwokindsoffederalcourts–trialandappellate.U.S.districtcourtsarethe

federaltrialcourts--theplaceswherefederalcasesaretried,witnessestestify,andjuriesserve.WithineachdistrictisaU.S.bankruptcycourt,apartofthefederaldistrictcourt thatadministersthebankruptcylaws.

Congressusesstateboundariestohelpdefinethejudicialdistricts.Eachoftheninety- fourdistrictsisinoneoftwelveregionalcircuits.Eachcircuithasacourtofappeals.Ifyouloseacaseinadistrictcourt,youcanaskthecourtofappealstoreviewthecasetoseeif thedistrictjudgeappliedthelawcorrectly.ThereisalsoaU.S.CourtofAppealsfortheFederalCircuit,whosejurisdictionisdefinedbysubjectmatterratherthanbygeography.Ithearsappealsfromcertaincourtsandagencies,suchastheU.S.CourtofInternational Trade,theU.S.CourtofFederalClaims,andtheU.S.PatentandTrademarkOffice,andcertaintypesofcasesfromthedistrictcourts.

TheSupremeCourtoftheUnitedStatesinWashington,D.C.,isthehighestcourtinthenation.Ifyouloseacaseinthecourtofappeals(or,sometimes,inastatesupreme court),youcanasktheSupremeCourttohearyourappeal.However,unlikeacourtofappeals,theSupremeCourtdoesnothavetohearit.TheSupremeCourthearsonlyavery smallpercentageofthecasesitisaskedtoreview.

CivilandCriminalCases-Definitionscivilcase--alawsuitbroughtbyaparty(theplaintiff)againstanotherparty(thedefendant) claimingthatthedefendantfailedtocarryoutalegaldutyowedtotheplaintiffandthat thedefendant’sbreachofdutycausedfinancialorpersonalinjurytotheplaintiff.Usually, thepurposeofbringingthecaseistogetacourtorderforthedefendanttopayfordamagessufferedbytheplaintiff.

criminalcase--acaseprosecutedbythegovernment,onbehalfofsocietyatlarge,againstanindividualororganizationaccusedofcommittingacrime.Ifthedefendantisfoundguilty,thesentence(orpunishment)isoftenimprisonment.

Civil&CriminalProceduresAcomprehensivereviewofcivilandcriminalproceduresisoutsidethescopeofthis

document.KansasstatutesandotherresourcespertainingtotheseproceduresareavailableattheLyonCountyLawLibrary,WednesdayandThursdaymorningsfrom9a.m.tonoon.

CivilKansasCivilProcedureiscoveredbyChapters60and61oftheKansasStatutes.

These canbeaccessedonlineathttp://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2017_18/statute/.As60-201states:

3source:https://www.fjc.gov/about/fjc-and-what-it-does

7 Fowler10/17/18

Scope.(a) The provisions of this article may be cited as the rules of civil procedure.

(b) This article governs the procedure in all civil actions and proceedings in the district courts of Kansas, other than actions commenced pursuant to the code of civil procedure for limited actions.

Chapter61coversCivilProcedureforLimitedActions.Criminal

Chapter22oftheKansasStatutescoversCriminalProcedure.These,too,maybeaccessedonlineathttp://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2017_18/statute/

CourtRulesheFifthJudicialDistrictisupdatingitscourtrules.Districtcourtpersonnelcananswerquestionspertainingtocourtrules,eithertheClerkoftheDistrictCourt’sofficeorjudges’administrativestaff.

Hearingsareusuallyopentothepublicandcertainrulesofbehaviorapply:• FrontrowforMedia,LawEnforcementandAttorneysonly• NOtalkingtoinmates• NOloudtalking• NOheadcoverings• CellphonesOFForSILENCED• CellphonesthatringwillbeconfiscatedandmaybepickedupafterCourtfrom

Security.Failuretofollowtheaboveruleswillresultinyourremovalfromthecourtroom.

T

8

Fowler10/17/18

A

D

O

InternetResourcesnumberofresourcesareavailabletothosepersonswishingtorepresentthemselvesinacourtcase.Thefollowingresourceswerereviewedforqualityandcurrency.

However,websitescananddochangefrequently.Whileeveryeffortwasmadetoensure theaccuracyofthefollowinglinks,wecannotberesponsibleforchangesmadesincethisdocumentwaswritten.

AmericanBarAssociation(ABA)ProSeResourceCenterevelopedasaprojectoftheABAStandingCommitteeontheDeliveryofLegalServices,thissiteisdesignedasaresourcetohelplawyers,barleaders,thejudiciary,

courtadministrators,scholarsandthemediabetterunderstandandanalyzetheissuesinvolvedinself-representationandunbundledlegalservices.

Thesiteisnotintendedtoassistindividualswithspecificlegalproblems.Individualswithlegalproblemsareencouragedtodiscussthoseproblemswithalawyer.Lawyersareavailableforconsultationsfromlawyerreferralservices(seehttps://www.americanbar.org/groups/legal_services/).Thosewhocannotaffordalawyerfor civilmattersmaybeabletoobtainalawyerthroughlegalaidorprobono(samelink).

Somematerialsprovidedatthisresourcecenterlinktodocumentsformattedaspdf filesandrequireAdobeAcrobat.Ifyoudonothavethis,youmaydownloaditathttps://get.adobe.com/reader/.FindLaw

neofseveralexcellentInternetresourcesisFindlaw(https://www.findlaw.com).Thissiteofferslegalinformationforprofessionals,businessownersandthepublic.Aswithotherresources,legalinformationshouldnotbeconfusedwithlegaladvice.

KansasJudicialCenterYouandtheCourts

NOLOasedinBerkeley,California,NoloPresshasproducedlegalbooksforthenon-lawyerfor30years.Thesebooksprovidelegalinformation,notlegaladvice.TheLyonCountyLawLibraryhasasmallcollectionofNolobookscoveringbankruptcy,criminal law,divorce,smallclaimsandwills.

TheseandotherbookscanbelookedupontheLyonCountyLawLibraryonlinecatalog,http://connect.collectorz.com/users/lycolawlib/books/view.NationalCenterforStateCourtshttp://www.ncsc.org/Topics/Access-and-Fairness/Self-Representation/Resource-Guide.aspxContainsprose(self-representation)information,primarilyforcourtstoassisttheself-representedlitigant.

9 Fowler10/17/18

Appendix-LegalAssistanceKansasSelf-HelpLegalAssistancehttp://www.kscourts.org/programs/self-help/default.asp

LyonCountyKansasLegalServicesofEmporiaPrimaryAddress:527CommercialSt,Ste201City:EmporiaState:KSZip:66801-4081GeneralPhone:620-343-7520CountiesServed:Anderson,Chase,Coffey,Greenwood,Lyon,Marion,MorrisCaseTypes:Consumer/Finance,Housing,Education,Juvenile,Employment,ElderLaw,IncomeMaintenance,Family,Health,IndividualRights