TOPEKA—Chief Justice Eric Rosen signed an administrative order today proclaiming September 17 Constitution Day and September 17 through 23 Constitution Week in Kansas courts and encouraging all Kansans to commend its observance.
He signed the order in the Supreme Court courtroom, where the court had convened to hear cases on its docket. Before signing, he gave brief remarks connecting the U.S. Constitution with the Declaration of Independence signed 250 years ago.
“The Declaration announced our ideals that all people are created equal and endowed with rights that no government may rightfully take away,” he said. “But it was the Constitution that established a government of laws and an independent judiciary to protect rights, fairly resolve disputes, and uphold the rule of law.”
He added that the words in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution endure today because each generation accepts responsibility for giving them meaning. That responsibility now belongs to this generation, and it includes a duty to instill these ideals in others.
Celebrating Constitution Day in Kansas courts
Rosen noted several examples of court activities that celebrate Constitution Day and Constitution Week, including Supreme Court and Court of Appeals visits to schools, a mock trial for third graders, and educational programs at the Kansas Judicial Center.
Educational programs at Judicial Center
Students from northeast Kansas high schools visited the Kansas Judicial Center September 16 to participate in the Gene Balloun Legal Career Education Program. The Kansas 1st Amendment Foundation organized the event to introduce students to legal careers and help them develop related skills.
Staff in the Office of Judicial Administration led tours of the Judicial Center, taught students how to get into law school and become an attorney, and shared the history of the appellate courts. In the morning, the students attended Supreme Court oral arguments and were introduced to the court by Ken Thomas, executive director of the Kansas 1st Amendment Foundation. Chief Judge Sarah Warner and Judge Karen Arnold-Burger of the Court of Appeals spoke to the students to wrap up the daylong program.
Laurel Klein Searles, chief of attorney services and compliance, said the program is a great way for students to learn more about the legal field.
“These students chose the program because they are already interested in careers in law,” she said. “The visit is about connecting these students with professionals already working in the field who can share their firsthand experiences and answer their questions.”
Supreme Court special session in Liberal
The Supreme Court will visit Liberal High School as part of its outreach to familiarize Kansans with the court, its work, and the overall role of the Kansas judiciary in recognition of Constitution Week.
The court will be in session at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 22, after which justices will greet the public in an informal reception.
Court of Appeals Constitution Day dockets
In its annual recognition of Constitution Day, Kansas Court of Appeals’ panels will visit three college campuses next week to hear cases before students and members of the public.
On September 22, a three-judge panel will hear arguments in Lawrence at the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics and the University of Kansas School of Law, while another panel will hear arguments in Manhattan at Kansas State University. A third panel will hear oral arguments September 23 at Washburn University School of Law.
When the visits were announced, Warner said the cases selected for them were chosen because they include constitutional questions.
“Through these cases, students and the public can witness how constitutional rights impact everyone’s daily lives and understand how judges approach and decide constitutional disputes,” Warner said.
Mock trial for third-grade classrooms
To reach a younger audience, Judge Robert Wonnell of the 10th Judicial District invited third-grade classrooms nationwide to participate in a mock trial conducted from his Johnson County courtroom.
More than 47,000 students from 47 states and more than 90 classrooms on military bases around the world registered to participate in this year’s virtual event.
“The mock trial teaches students about our responsibilities, opportunities, and rights under the Constitution of the United States of America,” Wonnell said. “Students listen to witnesses, evaluate evidence, and act as jury to decide whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty of violating a fictitious law that prohibits running in the hallway.”
Judges throughout the Kansas courts were encouraged to connect with third-grade classrooms in their communities and to volunteer to visit classrooms in person for the event.
Importance of celebrating Constitution
In Administrative Order 2026-PM-098, Rosen notes the importance of celebrating the Constitution that shapes American democracy.
“As justices, judges, and court staff, we are honored to uphold that promise and to share its meaning with the people we serve,” Rosen said. “We encourage all Kansans to reflect on the freedoms and responsibilities guaranteed by the Constitution.”