12th Judicial District Court
Mitchell County, Kansas

​Office Hours 8:30a - 4:30p  ​M - F

​Contact Information 
​P: 785-738-3753 
F: 785-738-4101​

Office Location
115 S Hersey
Beloit, KS 67420

Mailing Address

Clerk of the District Court
Pam Thiessen

• 785-738-3753
• pamt@12jd.org
  

Chief Judge
Honorable Kim W. Cudney

• 785-325-2332
  

District Judge
Honorable Debra J.G. Wright

• 785-738-2151

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Kansas Judicial Branch

• Rules & Legal Forms
• www.kscourts.org

COVID-19 Notice

As of March 17, 2020, The 12th Judicial District (Cloud, Mitchell, Jewell, Republic, Lincoln, Washington Counties) will be CLOSED to foot traffic.  We will still be working behind closed doors and only accepting business by email, fax, mail, or e-filed documents.   

All jury trials, traffic dockets, Chapter 61 actions (with the exception of evictions and garnishment hearings), scheduled through May 1, 2020 are continued pending further order of the Court.  All other Court proceedings scheduled through May 1, 2020 may be continued by the presiding Judge. 

When possible the presiding Judge will attempt to hold hearings telephonically or by video conference.  Any person represented by an attorney who has a hearing date set prior to May 1, 2020 is directed to contact that attorney for scheduling information, if no attorney, contact the Clerk of the Court in their county for hearing scheduling information. 

Individuals are prohibited from entering the courtroom, adjacent hallway, or clerk’s office if they have:

1. Traveled to areas affected by COVID-19
2. Been exposed to individuals with COVID-19 symptoms
3. COVID-19 symptoms
   
   

• View More MCKS COVID-19 Notices
  

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About District Courts
District courts are created by the Constitution. They are the trial courts of Kansas, with general original jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases, including divorce and domestic relations, damage suits, probate and administration of estates, guardianships, conservatorships, care of the mentally ill, juvenile matters, and small claims. It is here that the criminal and civil jury trials are held.
 
Judicial Districts
There are 31 judicial districts in Kansas, each with a varying number of judges. There is a district court in each county, and each court has a clerk of the court where cases are filed.
 
Judicial Departments
Judicial districts are grouped into six judicial departments. Each department is assigned to a Supreme Court justice, and the departmental justice may assign judges from one judicial district to another.
 
District Judges
Judges of the district court must be lawyers. Some counties have district magistrate judges, who may or may not be lawyers, and whose jurisdiction is limited. By state law, there is at least one resident judge in each county.
 
Chief Judges
The Kansas Supreme Court appoints one judge in each district to serve as chief judge. A chief judge has, in addition to his or her judicial responsibilities, general control over case assignments within the district and general supervisory authority over the clerical and administrative functions of the court.
 
Appeals 
Appeals may be taken from a district court to the Court of Appeals and, in some cases, to the Supreme Court.