United States District Court for the District of Kansas

10th Circuit Wichita, Kansas

About This Court

The District of Kansas is a federal judicial district covering the entire state of Kansas, operating within the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. The court has jurisdiction over federal civil and criminal matters arising throughout Kansas, a geographically large state spanning approximately 82,000 square miles in the central Great Plains region.

The court maintains divisional offices in Wichita, Kansas City, and Topeka, with Wichita serving as the primary location for court operations. The district handles a diverse range of federal matters, including cases involving agriculture, energy, and federal regulatory compliance that reflect the economic character of the region.

As a single-state district, the District of Kansas operates under the supervision of the Tenth Circuit and follows local rules that govern practice and procedure before its judges. The court serves a state population of approximately 2.9 million people across urban centers and rural counties.

Proceedings are governed by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, and Federal Rules of Evidence, along with the court's local rules. Bankruptcy cases are handled by the companion Bankruptcy Court, District of Kansas.

Divisions

Wichita Division (Wichita), Kansas City Division (Kansas City), Topeka Division (Topeka)

Caseload

The District of Kansas handles a mix of civil and criminal federal matters, with notable dockets in areas such as immigration, drug trafficking, and federal regulatory litigation. The court also sees significant civil rights and employment discrimination filings consistent with regional patterns in the Tenth Circuit.

Bar Admission

Attorneys seeking admission to practice before the District of Kansas must be admitted to the bar of the State of Kansas or the bar of another federal district court, and must comply with the court's local rules governing admission. Attorneys must also register for the court's CM/ECF electronic filing system.

Clerk's Office

259 Robert J. Dole United States Courthouse, 500 State Avenue, Kansas City, KS 66101

(316) 315-4200

Active Judges 9

Name	Appointed By	Confirmed	Law School
Monti Belot	George H.W. Bush	1991	University of Kansas School of Law
John Broomes	Donald J. Trump	2018	Washburn University School of Law
Daniel Crabtree	Barack Obama	2014	University of Kansas School of Law
Toby Crouse	Donald J. Trump	2020	University of Kansas School of Law
John Lungstrum	George H.W. Bush	1991	University of Kansas School of Law
Eric Melgren	George W. Bush	2008	Washburn University School of Law
Julie Robinson	George W. Bush	2001	University of Kansas School of Law
Holly Teeter	Donald J. Trump	2018	University of Kansas School of Law
Kathryn Vratil	George H.W. Bush	1992	University of Kansas School of Law

Local Rules

128 local rules extracted from this court's published rules. See the court's official website for the authoritative text.

Civil Rules 74

Rule	Title
11.1	SANCTIONS
15.1	MOTIONS TO AMEND AND FOR LEAVE TO FILE
16.1	MATTERS EXEMPT FROM PRETRIAL CONFERENCES, SCHEDULING, CASE MANAGEMENT
16.2	PRETRIAL CONFERENCES AND WITNESS/EXHIBIT DISCLOSURES
16.3	ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION
23.1	CLASS ACTIONS
23-A	NOTICE OF MULTI-DISTRICT LITIGATION RELATED CASE
26.1	MOTIONS FOR PROTECTIVE ORDERS
26.3	DISCLOSURES AND DISCOVERY NOT TO BE FILED
26.4	EXPERT WITNESSES
30.1	NOTICE OF DEPOSITIONS
30.2	DEPOSITIONS; NOT TO BE FILED; DELIVERY
30.3	TIME FOR TAKING DEPOSITIONS
3.1	COMMENCEMENT OF ACTIONS
32.1	USE OF DISCOVERY AT TRIAL
33.1	ADDITIONAL INTERROGATORIES TO THOSE PERMITTED BY FED. R. CIV. P. 33(a)
33.2	FORMAT FOR INTERROGATORIES UNDER FED. R. CIV. P. 33
35.1	TRIAL PREPARATION AFTER CLOSE OF DISCOVERY
37.1	MOTIONS RELATING TO DISCOVERY
37.2	DUTY TO CONFER CONCERNING DISCOVERY DISPUTES
39.1	ORAL ARGUMENT AT JURY TRIALS
40.1	ASSIGNMENT OF CASES
40.2	DETERMINATION OF PLACE OF TRIAL
40.3	SETTLEMENT OF CASES SET FOR TRIAL
4.1	SERVICE OF PROCESS IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE PRACTICE
4.2	APPOINTMENT OF STATE OFFICERS TO SERVE PROCESS
47.1	CONTACT WITH JURORS AFTER TRIAL
5.1	FORM OF PLEADINGS AND PAPERS
51.1	JURY INSTRUCTIONS
52.1	PROPOSED FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
5.3	COPIES REQUIRED FOR A THREE-JUDGE COURT
5.4.1	ELIGIBILITY, REGISTRATION, PASSWORDS
54.1	TAXATION AND PAYMENT OF COSTS
5.4.2	SEALED DOCUMENTS
54.2	AWARD OF STATUTORY ATTORNEY'S FEES
5.4.3	TECHNICAL FAILURES
5.4.4	ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
56.1	MOTIONS FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
58.1	JOURNAL ENTRIES AND ORDERS
6.1	TIME
62.1	MANDATES OF AN APPELLATE COURT
62.2	SECURITY
65.1	RESTRAINING ORDERS AND TEMPORARY INJUNCTIONS
65.2	SECURITY PROVIDERS
66.1	ADMINISTRATION OF ESTATES
67.1	REGISTRY FUNDS
7.1	MOTIONS IN CIVIL CASES
71A.1	CONDEMNATION ACTIONS
7.2	ORAL ARGUMENT ON MOTIONS
72.1.1	AUTHORITY OF UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGES
72.1.2	ASSIGNMENT OF MATTERS TO MAGISTRATE JUDGES
72.1.3	CONSENT TO CIVIL TRIAL JURISDICTION
72.1.4	OBJECTIONS; APPEALS; STAY OF MAGISTRATE JUDGE'S ORDERS
7.3	MOTIONS TO RECONSIDER
7.4	APPLICATION OF THIS RULE
79.4	SEALED FILES AND DOCUMENTS IN CIVIL CASES
81.1	REMOVAL FROM STATE COURTS
81.2	COPIES OF STATE COURT PROCEEDINGS IN REMOVED ACTIONS
83.7.1	REVIEW OF ORDERS OF ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCIES, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND OFFICERS (EXCLUDING SOCIAL SECURITY APPEALS INVOLVING ONE INDIVIDUAL PURSUANT TO 42 U.S.C. § 405)
83.7.2	SOCIAL SECURITY APPEALS INVOLVING ONE INDIVIDUAL PURSUANT TO 42 U.S.C. § 405
83.7.3	PROCEEDINGS IN SOCIAL SECURITY APPEALS AFTER A "SENTENCE SIX" REMAND
83.8.1	THE BANKRUPTCY COURT
83.8.11	DIVISION OF BUSINESS OF BANKRUPTCY COURT; ASSIGNMENT OF TITLE 11 CASES
83.8.12	SUPPLEMENTAL BANKRUPTCY COURT LOCAL RULES
83.8.13	JURY TRIALS
83.8.2	SCOPE OF RULES
83.8.3	FILING OF PAPERS
83.8.4	MAINTENANCE OF CASE AND CIVIL PROCEEDING FILES; ENTRY OF JUDGMENTS
83.8.5	CLARIFICATION OF GENERAL REFERENCE TO BANKRUPTCY JUDGES
83.8.6	TRANSFER OF PARTICULAR PROCEEDINGS FOR HEARING AND TRIAL BY A DISTRICT JUDGE
83.8.7	DETERMINATION OF AUTHORITY OF BANKRUPTCY COURT TO ENTER FINAL JUDGMENT
83.8.8	REVIEW OF NON-CORE PROCEEDINGS HEARD BY BANKRUPTCY JUDGE
83.8.9	POST-JUDGMENT MOTIONS
9.1	HABEAS CORPUS, MOTIONS TO VACATE, AND CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINTS BY PRISONERS

Criminal Rules 13

Rule	Title
CR1.1	LOCAL RULES APPLICABLE TO CRIMINAL CASES
CR1.2	TIME FOR FILING RESPONSES AND REPLIES TO MOTIONS
CR1.3	MOTIONS AND BRIEFING IN CRIMINAL CASES
CR17.1	SUBPOENAS IN CRIMINAL CASES INVOLVING COURT-APPOINTED COUNSEL
CR32.1	PRESENTENCE REPORTS
CR44.2	APPEARANCE IN CRIMINAL CASES
CR44.3	WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE
CR47.1	RELIEF FROM STATE DETAINERS
CR49.2	ELIGIBILITY, REGISTRATION, PASSWORDS
CR49.6	SEALED DOCUMENTS
CR49.6.1	COOPERATOR INFORMATION
CR53.1	DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION
CR58.1	PAYMENT OF A FIXED SUM IN LIEU OF APPEARANCE IN CERTAIN PETTY OFFENSE CASES

General Rules 18

Rule	Title
1.1	SCOPE AND MODIFICATION OF RULES; DEFINITIONS; CITATION
77.1	RECORD OFFICES; FILING OF PLEADINGS AND PAPERS
77.2	ORDERS AND JUDGMENTS GRANTABLE BY CLERK
77.3	CASE NUMBERING SYSTEM
77.4	SEAL OF THE COURT
77.5	DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION BY COURT SUPPORTING PERSONNEL
77.6	BENCH-BAR COMMITTEE
79.1	ACCESS TO COURT RECORDS
79.2	COURT LIBRARIES
79.3	CUSTODY AND DISPOSITION OF TRIAL EXHIBITS, SEALED DOCUMENTS, AND FILED DEPOSITIONS
80.1	USE OF TRANSCRIPTS
83.1.1	AMENDMENT OF RULES
83.1.2	STANDING ORDERS AND MANDATED RULES
83.2.1	PHOTOGRAPHS, RECORDINGS, AND BROADCASTS
83.2.2	COURT SECURITY
83.2.3	SPECIAL ORDERS IN SENSATIONAL CASES
83.2.4	ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION DEVICES
83.2.5	CONFLICTS INVOLVING SPOUSES AND CHILDREN OF JUDGES

Attorney Rules 22

Rule	Title
83.5.1	ROLL OF ATTORNEYS
83.5.2	ADMISSION TO BAR
83.5.2.1	SPECIAL ADMISSIONS – ATTORNEYS FOR THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND THE FEDERAL PUBLIC DEFENDER OFFICE
83.5.3	REGISTRATION OF ATTORNEYS
83.5.3.1	APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL IN CIVIL CASES
83.5.4	APPEARANCE FOR A PARTICULAR CASE
83.5.5	WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE
83.5.6	LEGAL INTERNS
83.5.7	APPEARANCES BY FORMER LAW CLERKS
83.5.8	LIMITED SCOPE REPRESENTATION IN CIVIL CASES
83.6.1	PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
83.6.10	FEES AND COSTS
83.6.11	APPLICABILITY OF FED. R. CIV. P. 11 TO DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS
83.6.12	GENERAL PROVISIONS
83.6.2	DISCIPLINE OF ATTORNEYS
83.6.3	PROCEDURE IN DISCIPLINARY CASES
83.6.4	RECIPROCAL DISCIPLINE
83.6.5	ATTORNEYS CHARGED WITH CRIMES AND DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS
83.6.6	INTERIM SUSPENSION
83.6.7	ATTORNEYS WHO RESIGN FROM THE BAR DURING AN INVESTIGATION OF MISCONDUCT OR DISBARMENT ON CONSENT
83.6.8	REINSTATEMENT AFTER DISCIPLINE
83.6.9	PROCEEDINGS IN WHICH AN ATTORNEY IS DECLARED TO BE MENTALLY INCOMPETENT, IS ALLEGED TO BE INCAPACITATED, OR IS PLACED ON DISABILITY INACTIVE STATUS BY ANOTHER JURISDICTION

Appellate Rules 1

Rule	Title
83.8.10	APPEALS

View all local rules →

Other Courts in the 10th Circuit

District of Colorado Denver, Colorado District of New Mexico Albuquerque, New Mexico District of Utah Salt Lake City, Utah District of Wyoming Cheyenne, Wyoming Eastern District of Oklahoma Muskogee, Oklahoma Northern District of Oklahoma Tulsa, Oklahoma Western District of Oklahoma Oklahoma City, Oklahoma