Kansas Supreme Court Justices visit Rock Hills

Last Wednesday morning brought excitement and increased security at Rock Hills Junior-Senior High School as the Kansas Supreme Court Justices visited for a Q&A session. The justices visited Cloud County on Tuesday where they heard oral arguments at the Concordia High School on two cases. This is the first time that the justices have visited this area.

An oral argument is a discussion of facts and law involved in a case on appeal. Fifteen minutes are provided to each representing attorney on each side of the case. The court is able to grant additional time. Normally occurring at the Kansas Judicial Center in Topeka, the court arranged the special evening session to make its work accessible to more people. The procedures were the same as if the justices were sitting in their courtroom.

The two cases that were heard in Concordia on Tuesday night were Cathy L. Stroud vs. Ozark National Insurance Co. and Stephen I. Guinn, and The State of Kansas vs. Franik Raymond Crudo. These cases reached the Kansas Supreme Court after going through the Kansas Court of Appeals. All appeals from district courts in both civil and criminal cases with the exception of those cases that may be appealed directly to the Supreme Court. The Kansas Court of Appeals also has jurisdiction over original actions in habeas corpus and certain appeals from decisions by administrative agencies.

The Kansas Supreme Court is the state court of last resort. It hears direct appeals from district courts in the most serious criminal cases and appeals in cases where a statute has been held unconstitutional. After hearing the oral arguments, the court will discuss in private the legal questions raised in the case. Court decisions are posted on the Kansas Judicial Branch website as they are released, typically around 9:30 a.m Friday, although they can be released any day of the week.

Chief Justice Marla Luckert is the justice that was at Rock Hills on Wednesday. She was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2003. She became chief justice in 2019. Luckert graduated from Goodland High School and is a fourth generation native of Sherman County. After graduation, she moved to Topeka, where she received her bachelor's and law degrees with academic honors from Washburn University.

In 1992, Luckert was appointed district judge of the 3rd Judicial District (Shawnee County). In 2000, she became chief judge. She is past president of the Kansas Bar Association, Kansas District Judges Association, Kansas Women Attorney's Association, Women Attorney's Association of Topeka, Topeka Bar Association, and Sam A. Crow Inn of Court.

There are a total of seven Supreme Court Justices, with Luckert being the chief justice. The other justices are Eric Rosen, Dan Biles, Evelyn Wilson, Melissa Standridge, K.J. Wall and Caleb Stegall.

Having the Supreme Court Justices in the Mankato and Concordia area was an exciting event for many students and teachers as they were able to learn more about the court.