Rural Justice Initiative Committee

(a) Purpose. The Supreme Court creates the Rural Justice Initiative 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 by examining the following topics: (1) rural attorney recruitment projects and ways to create, expand, and support those projects in Kansas; (2) best practices for meeting legal needs across Kansas and any barriers to those best practices; (3) statutory, regulatory, and rule changes necessary to improve the availability of attorney services in rural Kansas; and (4) other related issues the Supreme Court or committee identify. (b) Member Appointment. The Supreme Court will appoint permanent members and members with term limits. (c) Permanent Members. The people serving in the following positions are permanent members who are not subject to term limits: (1) one Supreme Court justice; (2) one representative from the Office of Judicial Administration, who will serve as secretary; (3) one representative from the University of Kansas School of Law; (4) one representative from Washburn University School of Law; (5) one representative from the Kansas legislative branch who serves a rural district; and (6) one representative from the Kansas executive branch. (d) Members with Term Limits. The Supreme Court will appoint no more than 12 members with term limits. A majority of these members must be Kansas judges or attorneys who live or work in rural Kansas. (e) Terms. The following provisions apply to the members with term limits. (1) Inaugural Term Limits. The inaugural members will serve staggered terms. Four members will serve 1 year, four members will serve 2 years, and four members will serve 3 years. An inaugural member initially appointed for less than 3 years may then serve two consecutive 3-year terms. An inaugural member initially appointed for 3 years may then serve one consecutive 3-year term. (2) Subsequent Term Limit. Other than the inaugural members, the Supreme Court will appoint each member for a 3-year term. No member may serve more than two consecutive 3-year terms. (3) Return to Service. A member may serve one or more additional terms after a break in service. (4) Vacancy. The Supreme Court will appoint a new member to fill a vacancy. A member appointed to fill a vacancy will serve the unexpired term of the previous member and may then serve two consecutive 3-year terms. (f) Committee Chair; Vice-Chair. The Supreme Court will designate one member as committee chair and another member as vice-chair. (g) Meetings. The committee will meet quarterly and when directed by the chair. [ History: New rule adopted effective October 20, 2025.]