Kan. Stat. Ann. § 20-301

Section 20-301 recognizes the Kansas district court as a court of general jurisdiction and therefore a proper court to initiate a criminal action.

State v. Matzke · filed 1985-03-02

Subject matter jurisdiction is the power of the court to hear and decide a particular type of action. Kansas district courts are courts of general jurisdiction, and, under K.S.A. 20-301 and K.S.A. 22-2601, the district court was the proper court in which to initiate this criminal action.

Section 20-301 gives Kansas district courts general original jurisdiction over civil and criminal matters unless another law provides otherwise, so a district court may hear a state criminal offense even when the same conduct also violates a city ordinance.

State v. Frazier · filed 1987-05-14

K.S.A. 20-301 outlines the jurisdiction of Kansas district courts: “There shall be in each county a district court, which shall be a court of record, and shall have general original jurisdiction of all matters, both civil and criminal, unless otherwise provided by law, and also shall have such appellate jurisdiction as prescribed by law.” ... It is obvious that the legislature did not intend to confer exclusive jurisdiction upon the municipal court for every offense which constituted a violation of a city ordinance and also a violation of a state statute. ... Here, the district court of Wyandotte County had jurisdiction.

Section 20-301 grants Kansas district courts all original jurisdiction not otherwise provided by law.

Boyce v. Boyce · filed 1989-06-30

It is a fundamental proposition that Kansas district courts have been granted all original jurisdiction not otherwise provided by law. K.S.A. 20-301. The power to enforce the common-law duty of support of minor children is within the parens patriae jurisdiction of the district court.

Section 20-301 gives each county’s district court general original jurisdiction over civil and criminal matters, subject to exceptions provided by law.

State v. Hall · filed 1990-05-31

The legislature has provided that each county shall have a district court of record which shall have general original jurisdiction of all matters both civil and criminal, unless otherwise provided by law. K.S.A. 20-301. The district court holds exclusive jurisdiction to try all felony and other criminal cases. K.S.A. 22-2601. The Kansas Constitution and legislative action have vested in the district courts of this state subject matter jurisdiction for felony cases. Subject matter jurisdiction is the power of the court to hear and decide a particular type of action.

Section 20-301 provides each county with a district court having general original jurisdiction over all civil and criminal matters unless otherwise provided by law.

State v. Dunn · filed 2016-07-15

K.S.A. 20-301 or a predecessor provision has provided since 1868 that there "shall be in each county" a district court that "shall have general original jurisdiction" on all matters, "both civil and criminal," unless otherwise provided by law.

Section 20-301 gives each county's district court of record original jurisdiction over all civil and criminal matters unless another law provides otherwise.

State v. Tannahill · filed 2017-02-24

K.S.A. 20-301 provides that each county shall have a district court of record which shall have original jurisdiction of all matters both civil and criminal, unless otherwise provided by law.

Section 20-301 gives Kansas district courts general original jurisdiction over all civil and criminal matters unless another law provides otherwise.

State v. Mundo-Parra · filed 2020-03-27

But Kansas district courts "have general original jurisdiction of all matters, both civil and criminal, unless otherwise provided by law." K.S.A. 20-301. Because there's no statute governing postconviction discovery, there's no statutory limit on the district court's general jurisdiction over it.

Section 20-301 gives Kansas district courts general original jurisdiction over civil and criminal matters unless another law provides otherwise.

State v. Hand · filed 2021-12-30

The enabling legislation provides: "There shall be in each county a district court, which . . . shall have general original jurisdiction of all matters, both civil and criminal, unless otherwise provided by law." K.S.A. 20-301. Given the continuing obligations imposed on Hand under KORA, we do not see the issue as moot because he had begun to comply with the statutory scheme. ... Under the circumstances, Hand could have filed a civil action seeking a declaratory judgment regarding his legal obligations under KORA.

Section 20-301 gives district courts general original jurisdiction over all civil and criminal matters unless otherwise provided by law.

Towne v. Unified School District No. 259 · filed 2022-10-21

"Kansas law provides a district court with "general original jurisdiction of all matters, both civil and criminal, unless otherwise provided by law . . . ." K.S.A. 20-301."

Section 20-301 gives Kansas district courts original jurisdiction over all civil and criminal matters unless another law provides otherwise.

In re Parentage of J.B. and N.B. · filed 2025-07-25

Under K.S.A. 20-301, the district courts "shall have original jurisdiction of all matters, both civil and criminal, unless otherwise provided by law." ... Further, under K.S.A. 23-2210(a), the district court has jurisdiction over actions brought under the Kansas Parentage Act. ... Accordingly, the district court had jurisdiction over this action brought under the Kansas Parentage Act, and Father's children had standing to pursue claims under the Act.

Section 20-301 gives Kansas district courts general original jurisdiction over all civil and criminal matters, including child-custody and paternity disputes.

Bonjorno v. Rush County, Kansas · filed 2025-08-14

Under K.S.A. § 20-301, a district court has “general original jurisdiction of all matters, both civil and criminal.” ... The judges sued here have subject-matter jurisdiction over the matters at issue: child-custody and paternity disputes.

Section 20-301 gives district courts general original jurisdiction over all civil and criminal matters unless otherwise provided by law, along with appellate jurisdiction prescribed by law.

Miller v. Dean · filed 2009-04-14

Kan. Stat. Ann. § 20-301 provides that a district court "shall have general original jurisdiction of all matters, both civil and eriminal, unless otherwise provided by law, and also shall have such appellate jurisdiction as prescribed by law."

Section 20-301 grants Kansas district courts general original jurisdiction, including subject matter jurisdiction over in rem foreclosure actions involving Kansas property.

MidFirst Bank v. Sipple · filed 2026-02-20

A district court in Kansas possesses subject matter jurisdiction over in rem actions against property in Kansas. K.S.A. 20-301 ("There shall be in each county a district court, which shall be a court of record, and shall have general original jurisdiction of all matters, both civil and criminal, unless otherwise provided by law . . . ."); Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v. Aleteanu, No. 108,926, 2013 WL 6062714, at *3 (Kan. App. 2013) (unpublished opinion) ("This includes subject matter jurisdiction over real estate foreclosure actions.").

Section 20-301 gives Kansas district courts general original jurisdiction over all criminal matters unless another law provides otherwise.

State v. Denney · filed 2026-01-16

Unless another law provides otherwise, K.S.A. 20-301 gives district courts "general original jurisdiction" over all criminal matters.

Section 20-301 gives district courts jurisdiction unless a law affirmatively excludes it; legislative failure to act does not exclude jurisdiction.

Murphy v. City of Topeka · filed 1981-06-19

This argument, however, turns the plain meaning of the statutory language completely around. For the ... legislature to fail to act on a matter is clearly not the same as for it to take positive action to exclude jurisdiction.

Section 20-301 gives district courts general jurisdiction to hear applications to increase or decrease child support when no statute limits that jurisdiction.

Dipman v. Dipman · filed 1981-11-13

Inasmuch as this action was filed in the district court, our court of general jurisdiction, and in view of the fact that no statute limits the general grant of jurisdiction contained in K.S.A. 1980 Supp. 20-301, we hold the parens patriae authority of the district court extends to all applications for modification of child support orders, whether for increase or for decrease.

Section 20-301’s grant of general original jurisdiction does not eliminate the statutory steps required to perfect an appeal from a magistrate judge.

In Re the Estate of Kempkes · filed 1979-12-07

The appellate jurisdiction of a district judge in an appeal from a decision or order of a magistrate judge is not affected by the fact that both judges may have concurrent original subject matter jurisdiction. The existence of concurrent original subject matter jurisdiction does not avoid the need to take statutorily required steps to perfect an appeal.

Section 20-301 makes Kansas district courts courts of record, requiring a record of their proceedings for meaningful appellate review.

In Re the Marriage of Case · filed 1993-06-25

Kansas district courts are courts of record. K.S.A. 20-301; Kan. Const. Art. 3, § 1.

Section 20-301 gives district courts general original jurisdiction over civil and criminal matters unless another law excludes the matter or assigns jurisdiction elsewhere.

City of Overland Park v. Niewald · filed 1995-04-14

K.S.A. 20-301 states that the district courts “shall have general original jurisdiction of all matters, both civil and criminal, ... unless otherwise provided by law.” Defendants cite no authority indicating that the legislature has enacted provisions excluding an action such as this from the district court’s jurisdiction. Consequently, the plain language of the statute indicates that the district court shall have jurisdiction unless the legislature provides that it does not or that jurisdiction lies elsewhere.

Section 20-301 gives district courts general original jurisdiction over civil and criminal matters unless another law provides otherwise, including authority to issue an administrative search warrant when no law removes that authority.

City of Overland Park v. Niewald · filed 1995-12-08

K.S.A. 20-301 provides that district courts “shall have general original jurisdiction of all matters, both civil and criminal, unless otherwise provided by law.” Because Niewald and Jung cited no authority that removed jurisdiction from the district court, the Court of Appeals concluded that the issuance of the administrative search warrant was within the district court’s jurisdiction. 20 Kan. App. 2d at 910-11. We agree.

Section 20-301 gives Kansas district courts general jurisdiction.

Fisher v. Lynch · filed 2008-01-22

Under Kansas law, district courts are courts of general jurisdiction, see K.S.A. § 20-301, and plaintiff makes no argument why the District Court could not entertain his constitutional claims arising from the child custody proceeding.

Section 20-301 gives Kansas district courts general original jurisdiction over all civil and criminal matters unless otherwise provided by law, including probate proceedings.

In Re the Estate of Heiman · filed 2010-10-15

In Kansas, the district courts “have general original jurisdiction of all matters, both civil and criminal, unless otherwise provided by law.” K.S.A. 20-301. That includes subject matter jurisdiction over probate proceedings.

Section 20-301 gives Kansas district courts general original jurisdiction over all civil and criminal matters unless another law provides otherwise.

In re A.A. 113148 - Sheils v. Wright. · filed 2015-08-14

In Kansas, our district courts by statute "have general original jurisdiction of all matters, both civil and criminal, unless otherwise provided by law." K.S.A. 20-301. As a general matter, then, our district courts have the subject-matter jurisdiction to consider disputes that a court might address unless some other statute limits that authority.

Section 20-301 gives Kansas district courts general original jurisdiction over civil and criminal matters unless another statute limits that authority.

In the Interest of A.A. · filed 2015-08-14

In Kansas, our district courts by statute “have general original jurisdiction of all matters, both civil and criminal, unless otherwise provided by law.” K.S.A. 20-301.

Section 20-301 recognizes that Kansas district courts are courts of general jurisdiction and permits them to hear this type of action.

State v. Bey · filed 2016-04-08

"Subject matter jurisdiction is the power of the court to hear and decide a particular type of action. Kansas district courts are courts of general jurisdiction and, under K.S.A. 20-301 and K.S.A. 22-2601, the district court was the proper court [for the State] to initiate this . . . action."

Section 20-301 gives Kansas district courts subject-matter jurisdiction over all civil and criminal actions, including probate matters.

State v. Williams-Salmeron · filed 2016-09-30

Unification eliminated those specialized courts and expanded district court jurisdiction to those areas. As a result of unification, district courts exercise subject-matter jurisdiction over all civil and criminal actions, including probate proceedings. See K.S.A. 20-301; In re Estate of Heiman, 44 Kan. App. 2d at 766-68. In other words, district courts now have subject-matter jurisdiction to hear both probate and criminal matters.

Section 20-301 gives Kansas district courts general original jurisdiction over all civil and criminal matters unless another law provides otherwise.

In re A.A.-F. (Court of Appeals) · filed 2017-12-29

By statute, Kansas district courts "have general original jurisdiction of all matters, both civil and criminal, unless otherwise provided by law." K.S.A. 20-301.

Section 20-301 gives Kansas district courts general original jurisdiction over all civil and criminal matters unless otherwise provided by law.

The Bank of New York Mellon v. Stebbins · filed 2019-03-01

There is, however, contrary precedent. K.S.A. 20-301 grants all Kansas district courts "general original jurisdiction of all matters, both civil and criminal, unless otherwise provided by law." ... Quite simply, under fundamental Kansas law, both Judge Gurney and Judge Gyllenborg had the legal power and authority to preside over the mortgage foreclosure proceedings and divorce proceedings assigned to their respective judicial divisions of the Johnson County District Court. Cherry Park's jurisdictional argument is without merit.

Section 20-301 gives Kansas district courts general original jurisdiction over all civil and criminal matters unless another law provides otherwise.

Myzer v. Baldwin · filed 2020-11-06

K.S.A. 20-301 provides that "[t]here shall be in each county a district court, which shall be a court of record, and shall have general original jurisdiction of all matters, both civil and criminal, unless otherwise provided by law." In other words, unless Kansas law specifically provides otherwise, district courts have subject matter jurisdiction to hear all civil and criminal cases.

Section 20-301 gives each Kansas district court general original jurisdiction over all civil and criminal matters unless otherwise provided by law.

Jobe v. Jones · filed 2020-11-06

Subject matter jurisdiction refers to the authority of a court to hear a particular kind of case; and the district court plainly had that authority here. See K.S.A. 20-301 (district court in each county "shall have general original jurisdiction of all matters, both civil and criminal, unless otherwise provided by law"); In re Marriage of Williams, 307 Kan. 960, 967-68, 417 P.3d 1033 (2018); In re Estate of Heiman, 44 Kan. App. 2d at 766-67. Courts do not lose jurisdiction simply because they may make a substantive or procedural error in handling a case.

Section 20-301 gives Kansas district courts general original jurisdiction over all civil and criminal matters.

Gleason (ID 75630) v. Nafziger · filed 2021-02-04

K.S.A. 20-301 provides that district courts “shall have general original jurisdiction of all matters, both civil and criminal.” Plaintiff complains of actions the defendants took, or failed to take, in their judicial capacities. The actions were within the district courts’ general jurisdiction over criminal matters.

Section 20-301 gives Kansas district courts general original jurisdiction over all civil and criminal matters unless another law provides otherwise.

Chalmers v. Burrough · filed 2021-08-27

K.S.A. 20-301 gives district courts "general original jurisdiction of all matters, both civil and criminal, unless otherwise provided by law."

Section 20-301 gives the district court subject-matter jurisdiction over a mortgage and the related foreclosure dispute.

The Bank of New York Mellon v. Luna · filed 2021-11-19

Thus, the district court, under K.S.A. 20-301, had subject matter jurisdiction over the mortgage and the Lunas' adverse legal relationship with the Bank continued.

Section 20-301 vests Kansas district courts with general original jurisdiction over all civil and criminal matters unless otherwise provided by law.

State v. Gleason · filed 2022-03-18

From the earliest days of statehood, K.S.A. 20-301 (or a predecessor provision) has vested district courts with "general original jurisdiction of all matters, both civil and criminal, unless otherwise provided by law." See State v. Dunn, 304 Kan. 773, 789, 375 P.3d 332 (2016).

Section 20-301 gives Kansas district courts general original jurisdiction over all civil and criminal matters unless another law provides otherwise.

In re Estate of Raney · filed 2023-01-20

Since the unification of the Kansas court system in 1977, K.S.A. 20-301 has provided that district courts have "general original jurisdiction of all matters, both civil and criminal, unless otherwise provided by law." Kansas courts have long interpreted this statute to indicate that a district court has jurisdiction to hear all subject matters "unless the legislature provides that it does not or that jurisdiction lies elsewhere."

Section 20-301 grants Kansas district courts general original jurisdiction over all civil and criminal matters, including probation revocation proceedings.

State v. Tucker · filed 2023-11-17

In turn, K.S.A. 20-301 affords district courts "general original jurisdiction of all matters, both civil and criminal."

Section 20-301 gives Kansas district courts general original jurisdiction over all civil and criminal matters unless another law provides otherwise.

Vogt v. Kansas Dept. of Revenue · filed 2024-12-27

K.S.A. 20-301, in turn, confers upon district courts "general original jurisdiction of all matters, both civil and criminal, unless otherwise provided by law."

Section 20-301 gives Kansas district courts general original jurisdiction over all civil and criminal matters, including matters under Chapters 60 and 61.

Zou v. Ebberts · filed 2025-06-20

Under K.S.A. § 20-301, a district court has “general original jurisdiction of all matters, both civil and criminal.” See also Explorer, Inc. v. Duranotic Door, Inc., 2011 WL 5833351, at *3 (Kan. Ct. App. 2011) (“That includes subject matter jurisdiction over cases under both Chapter 60 (the civil code) and Chapter 61 (the limited civil code).”).

Section 20-301 grants Kansas district courts subject-matter jurisdiction over garnishment actions.

Nicholson v. Mercer · filed 2024-11-27

see also Kan. Const. article 3, § 6 (vesting district courts with subject-matter jurisdiction as provided by law); K.S.A. 20-301 (granting district courts subject-matter jurisdiction over garnishment actions). ... We hold the district court had jurisdiction to hear Nicholson's garnishment action on the merits.