General Information

During the COVID-19 pandemic the United States Court for the District of Kansas is committed to continuing court operations and ensuring access to justice.

Hours of operation:

Kansas City – 9 AM – 4:30 PM (CLOSED FROM NOON – 12:30 PM for lunch)
Topeka – 9 AM – 4:30 PM (CLOSED FROM NOON – 12:30 PM for lunch)
Wichita – 9 AM – 4:30 PM (CLOSED FROM NOON – 12:30 PM for lunch)

If you have any concerns, please e-mail us:
Kansas City:  ksd_clerks_kansascity@ksd.uscourts.gov
Topeka: ksd_clerks_topeka@ksd.uscourts.gov
Wichita: ksd_clerks_wichita@ksd.uscourts.gov

Courthouse Visitors and Attorneys

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently updated its recommendations on face masks. In turn, the General Services Administration (GSA) issued directives that face masks are required in common areas of all GSA-controlled federal buildings, regardless of vaccination status.  Therefore all federal employees, onsite contractors, and visitors, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear a mask upon entering the courthouse in all three locations.

Some hearings are being held by telephone or video conference and may not be held in the courtroom.  Please check with the attorneys involved or the clerk’s office regarding access to any particular hearing. The court issued COVID-19 Information guidelines for all those visiting the courthouses in Kansas City, Topeka and Wichita.  This restricts those who are permitted to enter the courthouse.  Please read this information before attempting to visit any of our courthouses.

Related Administrative Orders and Forms

• COVID-19 Pandemic Order Update (21-9)
• Administrative Order Appointing the Federal Public Defender to Represent Defendants Requesting Early Termination of Supervised Release (21-8)
• COVID-19 Pandemic Order Update (21-7)
• Reopening Proceedings During COVID-19 Pandemic (21-5)
• Proceedings During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic (21-2)
• Proceedings During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic (20-13)
• Jury Trials During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak (20-12) (Amended on November 17, 2020)
• Revised Transition Plan for Civil and Criminal Hearings During Pandemic (20-11) (Amended on September 1, 2020; Superseded, in part, by No. 20-13)
• Transition Plan for Civil and Criminal Hearings During Pandemic (20-10) (Superseded by No. 20-11)
• Consent and Signature on Documents Filed in Criminal Actions During the COVID-19 Public Emergency (20-9)
• Order Establishing Protocol to Further Implement Standing Order 19-1 for Representation of Defendants Seeking Compassionate Release Due to COVID-19 Under Section 603(b) of the First Step Act (20-8)
• Order Extending Certain Statutory Deadlines for Administrative and Civil Judicial Asset Forfeiture Proceedings and Actions (20-7)
• Notice Regarding Public and Media Access to Video and Teleconference Hearings Due to COVID-19 (20-6)
• Grand Jury Proceedings Due to COVID-19 (No. 20-5)
• Criminal Case Operations Due to COVID-19 Response (No. 20-4) (Superseded by No. 20-10 and 2011)
• Criminal Hearings and Trials Under the Exigent Circumstances Created by COVID-19 and Related Coronavirus Health Conditions (No. 20-3) (Superseded by No. 20-10 and 20-11)
• Novel Coronavirus and COVID-19 Disease (No. 20-2)
• Consent to Appear by Video Conference or Telephone Conference
• Consent to Appear by Video Conference or Telephone Conference (Spanish Version)

Information for Jurors

Please note that the United States Court for the District of Kansas is committed to the safety and well-being of our jurors. We are closely following and reinforcing the guidelines from the CDC and U.S. health authorities and have taken precautionary measures to limit the potential spread of the COVID-19 virus while also ensuring that we are able to continue with essential judicial proceedings.

•  All potential jurors and empaneled jurors are required to wear a mask upon entering the courthouse in all three locations.
•  The court has hand sanitizer available for your use.
•  An enhanced cleaning process is in place. The courthouse air handling units are set to ensure maximum fresh air intake, air filtration, and air exchanges.

We continue to monitor the situation.  The recorded message (800 #) will be updated accordingly. For now, we ask that you follow the instructions in your summons packet.  Please stay safe and healthy.

Called to Serve Jury Selection Process

The Called to Serve film details the jury selection process for the U.S. District Courts.  For petit jurors scheduled to report to court on a specific date, we ask that you watch this film before you report for jury service.

Naturalization Ceremonies

Ceremonies have resumed, however the schedule continues to change.  If you have specific questions regarding the status of your citizenship, please contact the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services on-line at USCIS.gov.

 Links to More Information on COVID-19

• Kansas Department of Health and Environment
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• U.S. Courts.gov
• Continuity of Operations Plan: Pandemic/Infectious Disease Outbreak
• State of Kansas – COVID 19 Resource Center