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The Kansas Supreme Court is seeking public input on proposed Rule 1405, which would create a standing Rural Justice Initiative Committee.

If approved, the rule would set the structure for the committee, including membership and terms. The committee would oversee the implementation of recommendations from the Rural Justice Initiative Final Report, track the effectiveness of those efforts, and explore ways to improve access to legal services in rural areas.

The standing committee would follow the work of a Rural Justice Initiative Committee established in 2022 to examine unmet legal needs in rural Kansas, particularly as the number of attorneys living and working in these areas declines. That committee produced a final report with 10 recommendations, including attorney recruitment programs and best practices for addressing legal needs statewide.

Written comments will be accepted via email at publiccomments@kscourts.gov through 5 p.m. Thursday, October 2. Emails should use “Rule 1405” as the subject line.