Supreme Court selects Fort Hays State University for April 13 docket

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court announced today it has selected Fort Hays State University as the next destination in its ongoing outreach to familiarize Kansans with the high court, its work, and the overall role of the Kansas judiciary.

It will be the Supreme Court's first visit to Hays in the court's 154-year history. It is also believed to be the first time the court will hear cases in the evening.

The court will be in session from 6:30 p.m. to about 8:30 p.m. Monday, April 13, in the Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center located in Sheridan Hall on the Fort Hays State University campus at 600 Park Street in Hays.

The public is invited to attend the proceedings and observe the court as it hears oral arguments in three criminal cases. After the hearing concludes, the justices will greet the public in an informal reception.

"Community visits are a great way for the people of Kansas to get to know us — who we are what we do — and to learn about the judiciary's role in our society," said Chief Justice Lawton R. Nuss. "We encourage anyone who's ever been curious about Supreme Court proceedings to come. We have provided live webcasts of our courtroom sessions in Topeka since 2012, but people tell us there's nothing like seeing proceedings in person."

In 2011, the court convened outside its Topeka courtroom in the Kansas Judicial Center to mark the state's sesquicentennial. Its first stop was the historic Supreme Court courtroom in the Kansas Statehouse. From there, and through the end of 2011, the court conducted special sessions in Salina, Greensburg, and Wichita. The court held sessions in Overland Park in 2012, Pittsburg in 2013 and Kansas City in 2014.