Kansas Judicial Branch
TOPEKA—Chief Justice Eric Rosen signed an order appointing 18 members to the Rural Justice Initiative Committee.
Supreme Court Rule 1405 created the standing committee to implement recommendations made in the Rural Justice Initiative Final Report, monitor the effectiveness of those efforts, and identify ways to improve access to legal services in rural Kansas.
The standing committee succeeds the Rural Justice Initiative Committee created in 2022 to examine unmet legal needs in rural Kansas related to a shrinking number of attorneys living and working in rural areas.
That committee produced the final report with 10 recommendations that range from attorney recruitment projects to best practices to meet legal needs across Kansas.
Justice K.J. Wall, who chaired the original committee, said work has already begun to implement the recommendations such as introduction of Senate Bill 214 to address law student loan debt. He said the committee has also worked with Kansas law schools and bar associations to develop a professional organization for rural attorneys.
“Through this committee, we create a sustained, coordinated effort to grow the practice of law in rural Kansas,” he said. “We will help implement the recommendations, measure their effectiveness, and identify opportunities for additional programs to address this critical shortage of rural attorneys.”
Appointed as permanent members are:
