(a) The Judges shall consult with Bench/Bar Committee of the Topeka Bar Association whenever there is a proposal for the adoption, revision, or modification of a District Court Rule unless the proposed revisions required by a change in Kansas Statutes or Kansas Supreme Court Rules. The Chief Judge shall submit the proposed rule to the members Bench/Bar Committee by email. The Bench/Bar Committee shall have a period of 30 days in which to submit its recommendations or comments to the Court. In the event that time is of the essence the consideration of the proposed ruled, the Chief Judge may shorten the Bench/Bar comment period. After receiving any written recommendations from the Bench/Bar Committee, or if in the event the Committee fails to respond during the thirty day comment period, the proposal shall be submitted to the Judges for decision. If a majority of the Judges of the District Court vote in favor of the proposal, it shall be adopted as a rule or a revision of a rule of the District Court and it will become effective upon filing with the Clerk of the Kansas Appellate Courts. Notification of the new rule or amended rule shall be provided to the members of the bar through the Shawnee County District Court website and by requesting that the Topeka Bar Association send an email notification regarding the change to all its members.
(b) The Bench/Bar Committee may request in writing the adoption, revision, or modification of a District Court Rule, in which event, the proposal shall be submitted to the Judges of the District Court for a majority vote, and if approved, for filing and notice in accordance with subsection (a).
Adopted: February 19, 2014