Shawnee County Court Records in Kansas

Established in 1855, Shawnee County is one of Kansas' original counties and was named after the Shawnee tribe. According to the US Census Bureau, it has an estimated population of 177,746 (as of July 1, 2023), ranking it as the third-most populous county in Kansas. Shawnee County has a land area of approximately 544 square miles; its county seat and largest city, Topeka, also serves as the state capital.

The Shawnee County trial court system operates under Kansas's 3rd Judicial District and comprises District and Municipal Courts. The District Court has general original jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases, including felonies, misdemeanors, contract disputes, small claims, family law and juvenile matters, probate, guardianships, conservatorships, and mental health issues. Jury trials typically occur in this court. On the other hand, the Municipal Courts are limited jurisdiction, non-jury trial courts that typically handle traffic local ordinance violations that occur within their respective jurisdictions; some Municipal Courts may also handle misdemeanor offenses.

Shawnee County public court records refer to any document that contains information generated during or received in relation to court activities in the county. These documents include court filings, orders, summonses, subpoenas, motions, affidavits, trial dispositions, transcripts, sentencing, settlements, judgments, and verdicts. The Shawnee County Clerk of the District Court is the custodian of these records and maintains them either digitally, on microfilm, or both.

You can view Shawnee County court records remotely via the Kansas District Court Public Access Portal or by utilizing public access terminals available at the Shawnee County Courthouse. You can also obtain copies of these records by completing and submitting a KORA (Kansas Open Records Act) Request Form to the Clerk of the District Court, either in person or via mail-in to:

Copy fees are determined by the volume of your request; pre-payment of a $20.00 research and copy fee is usually required for mail-in requests. Be aware that some court records may be unavailable on microfilm. Also, certain records, such as adoption and juvenile records, are considered confidential and exempt from public disclosure in Shawnee County; these records can only be accessed under specific conditions.