Pottawatomie County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Pottawatomie County had an estimated population of 25,482 as of 2022. This represents a 4.1% increase since the 2020 decennial census. The Kansas Territorial Legislature created and named the county after the Potawatomi tribe. This happened during its establishment in the year of 1857. The land included used to be part of Riley County. Westmoreland, the county seat, is one of the 17 municipalities encompassed within the county. The District Court serves as the county's highest court of trial, with four Municipal Courts handling judicial matters within their respective localities.

Located in Westmoreland, the Pottawatomie County District Court administers approximately 3,000 cases each fiscal year. It has general, original jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases, including domestic relations, juvenile matters, small claims, conservatorships, guardianships, probate, felonies, and traffic violations. The District Court has the authority to conduct jury trials, court trials, and preliminary hearings for felony cases. In contrast, Municipal Courts usually deal with minor offenses relating to traffic violations, misdemeanors, and violations of municipal codes. Pottawatomie County Municipal Courts are situated in Onaga, Saint George, Saint Marys, and Wamego.

Pottawatomie County has a fluctuating index crime rate, according to the crime statistics reported by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. The county had an index crime rate of 12.0 offenses per 1,000 population in 2021, which decreased to 5.6 offenses per 1,000 people in 2022. The crime rate then increased to 8.6 offenses per 1,000 population in 2023. Additionally, court records in Pottawatomie County are available for inspection by the public at designated public access terminals in the District Courthouse. Also, the Kansas District Court Public Access Portal is an online resource for individuals who choose to view court records remotely. It is important to note that, for confidentiality purposes, the public cannot inspect expunged, sealed, mental health, medical, custodial, adoption, or certain juvenile records. Court orders or special permission is required to access such files which the County Clerk can assist with during an in-person visit. All other records are easily accessible to promote transparency throughout the county and with all residents.

Pottawatomie County's court system consists of a district court and municipal courts, which together manage the county's caseload, providing convenient access for case filing and retrieval. To minimize its workload, the court system permits court users to seamlessly access court records online and at public access terminals.