The U.S. Supreme Court

"The Supreme Court enjoys all but free rein in selecting which cases to review. From the end of one term in the summer until the start of the next, on the first Monday in October, the work of the court is to sift through thousands of petitions from parties…” (New York Times)

Each year in early October the Nation, if not the world, turns its attention to nine men and women meeting in a stately building on East Capitol Street in Washington D.C. The first Monday in October is designated by U.S. Statute as the opening of a new term of the United States Supreme Court, the highest court in the land, and there is often great interest in knowing what cases the Court has chosen to hear and the eventual outcome of the court's decisions.

This year especially interest in the proceedings of the Court has increased in Kansas due to a case involving the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas. Local media have focused on the arguments of both parties and Kansans have read and listened to explanations of how cases are presented to the Supreme Court and decided by the Court.

Below are some links with further information on the U.S. Supreme Court, its duties, history, members and actions. Also included are links to some media information on the case called "Albert Snyder, Petitioner v. Fred W. Phelps, Sr. et al."

About the Supreme Court
http://www.supremecourt.gov/about/about.aspx

Court Procedure
http://www.supremecourt.gov/about/procedures.aspx

Supreme Court Firsts and Other Trivia
http://www.supremecourt.gov/about/oath/supremecourtoathfirstsandtrivia2009.aspx

Associate Justice Elena Kagan’s investiture
http://www.supremecourt.gov/publicinfo/press/investiture/investiture_kagan.aspx

“No candid cameras in the Supreme Court”
Fort Worth Star-Telegram October 5, 2010
http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/10/05/2523030/no-candid-cameras-in-the-
supreme.html

Has The Supreme Court Limited Americans' Access To Courts?
http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS125052
( Hearing before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, 111th Congress, First Session, December 2, 2009)

A Bill To Permit The Televising Of Supreme Court Proceedings
http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS102281
(hearing before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, 110th Congress, Second Session, September 8, 2008)

As the court begins its 2010 term, a case with Kansas connections has received national and world notice

Albert Snyder, Petitioner v. Fred W. Phelps, Sr. et al
http://www.supremecourt.gov/Search.aspx?FileName=/docketfiles/09-751.htm

“Snyder v. Phelps a ‘big’ case”
Topeka Capital Journal October 3, 2010
http://cjonline.com/news/local/2010-10-03/snyder_v_phelps_a_big_case

“High court struggles with funeral protest case” Wichita Eagle October 6, 2010
http://www.kansas.com/2010/10/06/1529007/high-court-to-hear-military-funeral.html

“U.S. court considers anti-gay protests at funerals”
Toronto Sun October 6, 2010
http://www.torontosun.com/news/world/2010/10/06/15602881.htmls/world/2010/10/06/15602881.html

Article contact: Cindy Roupe (Resources); Bill Sowers (Text)
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The child in "the system"

Kansas is proud to be a family-oriented state. Good schools and family support are midwestern qualities to be envied. Despite this, it is an unfortunate reality that a few Kansas children are sometimes put in situations that may remove them from one or both parents and/or the homes to which they are acquainted. Other times, parents are separating and there is a dispute over custody or support. Kansas government has several services that provide quick relief and find a solution which best keeps the family intact or, if needed, provide a new, stable home for the child.

The Kansas Judicial Branch has provided the 2010 Kansas Child Support Guidelines:
http://www.kscourts.org/Rules-procedures-forms/Child-Support-Guidelines/2010-Guidelines-Final.pdf

Kansas courts are instructed by KSA 5-503(f) to provide mediation to come to a quick solution for the child. Mediation is a way for people in disagreement to discuss the problems involved with the help of a third party who will not take sides :
http://www.kscourts.org/programs/parenting-planning/mediation.asp

In accordance to KSA 38-1552a, Kansas courts have developed the Parent Ally Program:
http://www.kscourts.org/programs/parenting-planning/parent-ally-orientation.asp

Kansas has created the Office of Child Support Services (CSE) which helps children by enforcing parental responsibility to pay financial support. All Kansas families have access to CSE services, which include assistance with locating non-custodial parents, confirming paternity, establishing and enforcing child support and medical support orders, and collecting and distributing payments:
http://www.usa800.com/rback/kschild/kschild.asp

For convenience, the state has set up the Child Support Payment Center:
http://www.kspaycenter.com/

Sometimes child support payments are delayed by one parent or the other for various reasons. The Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS) can help payments get back on track:
http://www.srskansas.org/cse/cse.htm

There are also Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) programs available. The CASA program assist in securing permanency for children who are in the child welfare system because of alleged or confirmed abuse and/or neglect. The presiding judge in such a case may appoint a CASA volunteer who is responsible for advocating the best interests of the child and assisting the child in obtaining a permanent, safe, and homelike placement. Also, CASA volunteers can be appointed to work with children in the juvenile justice system and children involved in domestic relations cases. A list of CASA programs can be found at:
http://www.kscourts.org/programs/CASAtable.pdf

SRS has several services to assist and preserve a family before a situation requires a child be removed from the home:
http://www.srskansas.org/CFS/programservices.htm#Services%20to%20Preserve%20Families

When a report of abuse or neglect is made to SRS, an Initial Assessment is completed to determine if SRS should become involved. If the report meets the criteria for SRS involvement, it is investigated by a social worker or special investigator. Learn more about the investigative process at:
http://www.srskansas.org/CFS/programservices.htm#Child%20Protective%20Services

***If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected in Kansas, please contact the Kansas Protection Report Center (PRC) at 1-800-922-5330 OR call your local law enforcement.

If a situation requires it, a child is placed in the care of SRS and a suitable foster family is found. Years ago foster care and adoption was privatized and now private agencies across the state partner with SRS to provide stable homes for children. Some of Kansas' foster care partners can be found at:
http://www.childally.org/fostercare/fosteragencies.html

One in four children in the care of SRS live with relatives. Learn more about the Relatives as Caregivers program at:
http://www.srskansas.org/CFS/RelativesasCaregivers.pdf

Learn more about the Grandparents as Caregivers program at:
http://www.srskansas.org/ISD/ees/grandparents_caregivers.htm

If you are looking to become a permanent solution for a child through adoption you can learn more about adoption assistance at:
http://www.srskansas.org/CFS/AdoptionAssistanceBrochure.pdf

Article contact: Kim Harp

Kansas Judges

How Kansas selects, elects and/or retains judges has been a topic of much discussion of late. Below are links to some basic resources on judges and the courts within our state:

Kansas Courts: General Information
http://www.kscourts.org/kansas-courts/general-information/
(A short look at the different levels of courts in Kansas and what kinds of cases they handle. Provided at the Kansas Judicial Branch website)

Kansas Court System Chart
http://www.kscourts.org/pdf/ctchart.pdf
(A visual description of the levels of courts provided at the Kansas Judicial Branch website)

Becoming a Judge
http://www.kscourts.org/kansas-courts/general-information/you-and-the-courts/becoming-Judge.asp
(A short explanation regarding selection, appointment and retention of judges in Kansas. Provided at the Kansas Judicial Branch website)

Kansas Commission on Judicial Performance
http://kansasjudicialperformance.org/
(The Kansas Commission on Judicial Performance was created in 2006 by the Kansas Legislature to improve the performance of individual judges and the judiciary as a whole. The Commission's evaluations of all of the state court trial and appellate judges are provided to the judges and justices for self-improvement. In addition, for judges and justices who are subject to retention elections, the Commission's evaluations are disseminated to the public to help voters make informed decisions about whether to continue those judges and justices in office)

Other Helpful Sites at the Judicial Branch Website:
--Annual Reports for the Courts of Kansas
--Judicial Branch Open Records Requests
--Judicial Complaint Procedure
--Judicial Ethics Advisory Opinions
--Rules Adopted by the Supreme Court
--Supreme Court Nominating Commission

Kansas State Constitution: Article 3
The Judicial Branch
http://kslib.info/constitution/art3.html
(From the State Library of Kansas website)

Judicial Selection and Retention FAQs
http://www.ncsconline.org/WC/CourTopics/FAQs.asp?topic=JudSel#FAQ623
(A comparative look at the selection/election of judges in U.S. states at the National Center for State Courts website)

Resources Available via ATLAS, the Online Catalog of the State Library, Washburn Univeristy, Kansas Supreme Court and the Kansas State Historical Society:
Courts -- Kansas
Judges -- Kansas
Judges -- Selection and appointment -- Kansas
Judicial districts -- Kansas

Article contact: Bill Sowers
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