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Supreme Court Travel Docket

The Kansas Supreme Court conducts special dockets in different communities as part of its ongoing outreach to familiarize Kansans with the court, its work, and the overall role of the Kansas judiciary.



Supreme Court visit to Kansas Statehouse

5:30 p.m.
Wednesday
January 22

The Kansas Supreme Court is returning to the Kansas Statehouse as part of its ongoing outreach to familiarize Kansans with the court, its work, and the overall role of the Kansas judiciary.
 

Oral argument and public reception

The Supreme Court will be in session from 5:30 p.m. to about 6:15 p.m. Wednesday, January 22, at:

Kansas Statehouse
Old Supreme Court Courtroom
300 SW 10th Ave.
Topeka

The public is invited to attend the special session in person. The Supreme Court will hear oral argument in one case. When the session ends, justices will greet the public in an informal reception outside the third floor library.
 

About oral argument

To learn about oral argument, visit Supreme Court Guide to Oral Argument
 

Quiet, please

Talking during oral argument is prohibited. If you arrive after the session starts, or you must leave before it ends, be as quiet as possible entering and exiting. Also, do not talk outside the doors to the courtroom.
 

Security screening

If you attend in person, plan to arrive early to allow time to get through a security screening. Follow these guidelines to make your check-in as quick and easy as possible:

  • Do not bring large bags, large purses, backpacks, computer cases, or briefcases.

  • Do not bring knives, pepper spray, firearms, or weapons.

  • Do not bring electronic devices such as laptop computers, handheld games, personal digital assistants, or tablets. If you must carry a cell phone, turn off or silence its ringer, and store it out of sight.

  • Do not bring food or drink. 
     

Oral argument livestream

If you can't attend in person, the special session will be streamed live online at www.YouTube.com/KansasSupremeCourt.
 

Case on docket

The court publishes a booklet for the special session that explains the proceedings and describes the case to be heard.

Appeal No. 126,732: Brenda Zaragoza (appellant) v. Board of Johnson County Commissioners (appellee)

Counsel for appellant: Richard W. Morefield Jr.

Counsel for appellee: Andrew D. Holder

Johnson County: (Civil Appeal) Zaragoza fell in the parking lot of the Monticello Branch of the Johnson County Library when she stepped off the curb onto a parking surface sloped toward a drain. She broke her knee, ankle, and heel. Zaragoza sued the Johnson County Board of Commissioners alleging her injuries were caused by the County’s negligence because they created and maintained a dangerous condition in the library parking lot. The Johnson County District Court entered summary judgment for the County, holding that the library and its parking lot had recreational use immunity under K.S.A. 75-6104(o) and that Zaragoza did not sufficiently plead or prove gross and wanton negligence, as is necessary to defeat immunity. The district court also denied Zaragoza’s motion to file an amended petition adding gross and wanton negligence. The Court of Appeals affirmed the district court’s decision.

Issues on review are: (1) whether the recreational use immunity provision of the Kansas Tort Claims Act violates the Kansas Constitution; (2) whether the Court of Appeals erred by applying the recreational use immunity exception under K.S.A. 75-6104(o) to a public library parking lot; (3) whether the Court of Appeals erred by affirming the district court’s grant of the County’s summary judgment motion; and (4) whether the Court of Appeals erred by affirming the district court’s refusal to allow Zaragoza to amend her petition to plead gross and wanton negligence.

 

Travel docket history

In 2011, the Supreme Court convened outside its Topeka courtroom in the Kansas Judicial Center to mark the state's 150th anniversary. 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. Since then, the court has held special sessions as follows:

 




 



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