Kansas Supreme Court Coming to KCKCC in October

The Kansas Supreme Court has announced that it has selected Kansas City Kansas Community College as its next community destination. This is in an ongoing effort to familiarize Kansans with the court, its work and the overall role of the Kansas judiciary system.

The court will be in session from 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 29 in the Performing Arts Center on the KCKCC main campus, 7250 State Ave. The court will hear oral arguments in two criminal cases and three civil cases. The court started the process of visiting different communities in 2011. Among the communities the court has visited are Pittsburg, Kan., where the court met at Pittsburg State University; Greensburg, Kan., which is remembered for the devastating tornado that swept through the small community in 2007; Salina, Kan. and Wichita, Kan. The court has also held a special session in Overland Park. In each of the locations, the session is open to the public, and the community is encouraged to attend.

“Community visits are a great way for the people of Kansas to get to know us, who we are and what we do, and to learn about the judiciary’s role in our society,” said Chief Justice Lawton R. Nuss. “We especially like visiting colleges and universities because the students show great interest in learning about our state judicial system.”

Leading up to the visit, Supreme Court staff will work with KCKCC faculty as well as area high school teachers to identify classes of students who would like to attend the special session to hear oral arguments in person. Staff will share background information about the cases with the students so they will know the basic legal questions being argued before the court.

“Anyone who’s ever been curious about Supreme Court proceedings should come,” Nuss said. “We’ve provided live webcasts of our courtroom sessions in Topeka since 2012, but people tell us there’s nothing like seeing proceedings in person.”

Brian Bode, vice president of administrative services, said it is a great honor for KCKCC to be selected to host the justices. He said the experiences will be beneficial for students because they will have the opportunity to view, live, the highest court in the State of Kansas as it hears both civil and criminal cases.

 “This may be a once in a lifetime chance to listen, view and learn how cases initially heard in a county courthouse end up in front of the Supreme Court,” he said. “KCKCC is honored, excited and prepared to host this prestigious event.”

For more information on the visit or to be granted media access, contact Lisa Taylor, public information director for the Office of Judicial Administration, at785-296-4872 or by email at [email protected].

Performing Arts Center at Kansas City Kansas Community College

7250 State Ave., Kansas City, Kan. 66112