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Commission OKs county funding increase to expand legal services for protection-from-abuse dockets
Summary
Sedgwick County commissioners approved a midyear budget increase to expand Kansas Legal Services' presence on protection-from-abuse dockets from half-day to full-day, citing a rise in filings and the need for counsel and advocacy time; the increase was approved 5–0.
The Sedgwick County Commission voted May 6 to increase funding so Kansas Legal Services (KLS) can staff protection-from-abuse (PFA) dockets for a full day instead of a half day. District court staff and KLS representatives told the board that PFA filings have grown since online filing introduced a higher volume of contested appearances; in 2025 the court recorded 2,861 PFA filings.
Joni Wilson of Sedgwick County District Court said KLS helped the court manage increased hearings by meeting with plaintiffs and drafting pleadings, and that a full-day docket would give attorneys and advocates time to meet parties and prepare for hearings without overloading courtroom space. Court materials presented to commissioners showed KLS served 1,320 clients in 2025 and that many clients served had incomes below 150% of the federal poverty line.
The requested increase was presented as $2,083 per month (approximately $55,000 annually) for expanded coverage; the board approved the request for the remainder of the fiscal year and noted the funds will come from the public-safety contingency in the midyear budget. Commissioners discussed that by statute the court cannot charge a docket fee for this service when provided and affirmed the county’s interest in supporting access to counsel for vulnerable litigants.
The motion passed unanimously, 5–0, and staff said the matter will be evaluated as part of the 2027 budget process for longer-term funding.
