TOPEKA—The Supreme Court will conduct an historic session Thursday, January 27, when it convenes in the former Supreme Court Courtroom in the Statehouse to hear appeals in four cases.
Chief Justice Lawton R. Nuss said the temporary relocation from the Judicial Center to the Statehouse is to commemorate the state's sesquicentennial, which is January 29. To his knowledge, the Court has not used the former Courtroom since its move to the Judicial Center in 1978. He said the justices will be gaveled into session by Tim Rues, historic re-enactor and administrator of Constitution Hall, a state historic site at Lecompton. Rues said he will be in period costume and that other similarly dressed re-enactors have been invited to attend a hallway reception at 4:30 following the Court's session.
The Court's docket for the session, which begins at 1:30 p.m., contains four appeals. They include a murder case from Manhattan, an automobile negligence appeal arising from a motor vehicle fatality accident, an appeal from a Kansas Corporation Commission decision, and a jurisdictional dispute in a trade secrets matter.
"This is an excellent opportunity for all legislators and the public to learn more about the work of the Court, as well as commemorate the Court's rich history over the 150 years of Statehood," Chief Justice Nuss said. He noted that the oral arguments, as in all of the other Supreme Court's hearings, will be audio-streamed live over the Internet at www.kscourts.org. "The justices believe Kansans should have direct access to their courts and know who we are and what we do," the Chief Justice said.
Moving the Supreme Court oral arguments to the former Courtroom for the day is the brainchild of Sen. Jeff King, an attorney-legislator from Independence. Chief Justice Nuss said Sen. King telephoned last summer, suggesting the Court hear arguments in its former courtroom. "I was very interested in the idea," said Nuss, who himself is an avid fan of Kansas history. "I told him I would submit the idea to my colleagues, and they also were enthusiastic about it," he said.
King said in commemorating the 150th year of Statehood it is vital that legislators and the public learn more about the Supreme Court. "We think it's important to make the oral arguments more accessible to the Legislature and the public," he said. King praised House Judiciary Chair Rep. Lance Kinzer, R-Olathe; and Senate Judiciary Chair Tim Owens, R-Overland Park, for their assistance in making the courtroom and a committee room available for the session, and for encouraging their colleagues to attend as time permits.
Statehouse Architect Barry Greis said the courtroom has been renovated to accommodate legislative committee hearings, which is now its primary use, but has been restored as closely as possible to its appearance in 1903, the year a photograph used for the restoration was taken. For example, the room is carpeted using the exact pattern in the photograph; however, the colors had to be guessed, because the photo is in black and white.
He said the room's detail includes the recreation of its six chandeliers, which at the time could be lit with either gas or electricity. The lamps on each end of the bench also are true to their depiction in the photo. One renovation discovery revealed that the bench of the Supreme Court had been expanded and moved forward several feet in the 1930s to accommodate a "robing room" immediately behind a false wall where the justices could meet before taking their seats on the bench.
"We moved the bench back to where it was in 1903 and eliminated the room behind the courtroom," Greis explained. The bench also was shortened to mirror its earlier size. Behind the bench above the justices' chairs are some of the same photographs of previous justices that were hanging there in the 1903 photograph
Meanwhile, in a nod to a "back to the future" concept, the latest in high tech equipment, including data and electricity ports and assisted listening devices, have been installed, making the room compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Greis said.
A reception sponsored by the newly created Appellate Practice Section of the Kansas Bar Association will wrap up the day in the hallway just outside the courtroom beginning at 4:30 p.m.