19th Judicial District Court

About the District Court

General Information

The 19 Judicial District is comprised of Cowley County. Cowley County has two court locations. The court location in Winfield is in the Cowley County Courthouse, 311 E. 9th, on the second floor of the Cowley County Courthouse located at 311 East 9th, Winfield, Kansas. Our second court is located on the second floor of the City of Arkansas City municipal building located at 1st and Central Street in Arkansas City, Kansas. Generally cases that end in the letter “W” are heard in Winfield and cases that end in the letter ”A” are heard in Arkansas City. There are a few exceptions to this rule as cases are occasionally transferred between the judges due to possible conflicts of interest or to help manage a judge’s work load.

You should note that cases that have the initials “LM” are limited actions civil cases and these cases are heard at the west end of the Albertson Courthouse Annex building located directly north (across 9th street) from the courthouse in Winfield.

All jury trials are held in the main court in Winfield. All limited actions cases are to be filed in the District Court in Winfield. The court in Winfield and the court in Arkansas City each hear traffic, criminal, domestic(divorce), probate, small claims, juvenile, child in need of care, protection from abuse/stalking and general civil cases. Marriage licenses may be obtained in the clerk’s office in Winfield or Arkansas City.

District Court Personnel

Chief Judge

Hon J. Michael Smith

Presides over cases in Winfield, with an office located in Winfield.

District Court Judge

Hon James T. Pringle Jr.

Presiding Judge in the District Court in Arkansas City, with an office located in Arkansas City.

Hon Nicholas St. Peter

Presides over cases in Winfield, with an office located in Winfield.

Chief Clerk

Marilyn Leith

Chief Court Services Officer

Dan Smith