Douglas County Law Library

Row of books in Law Library
Douglas County Law Library

Contact Us

Location: Judicial and Law Enforcement Building

Public Library Hours: Tues, Wed & Thurs, 9:00am-noon

Manager's Hours: Monday; 1:00pm - 5:00pm
Tuesday-Friday; 8:30am-12:30pm

Email: mgrlawlib@douglascountyks.org

Phone: (785) 838-2477

Library Manager: Lindsey Pendry

Copying & Printing

The Law Library has a combined photocopier/printer available for use by its patrons. The charge is 10¢ per page. Printing and scanning are available from the Library’s patron workstations.  

Michael J. Malone Douglas County Law Library

The mission of the Douglas County Law Library is to provide legal and law-related resources through a law library, focused on a Kansas practice, conveniently located in the Judicial Center for use by the bar, bench and public.

Visiting attorneys may access Law Library resources, but are required to check in with District Court. Please contact an Administrative Assistant from Divisions 1-7 for more information.

Kansas Statutes and Case Law

The library contains most resources needed for researching the law of the United States, Kansas or other states. You can search for materials in the catalog or review its most recent acquisitions. The library collection is updated frequently.

  • National Primary Plus & Kansas Practice Library through Lexis Advance® legal research
  • Bradley Child Support Software
  • Criminal Law resources
  • Family Law resources
  • Juvenile Law resources
  • Standard Traffic Ordinances
  • Practice handbooks covering Kansas law in many areas
  • Legal encyclopedias, treatises and other materials
  • Recent legal periodicals
  • Electronic filing

News and Announcements

There are no announcements at this time

Art Gallery

Current Exhibition

The Open Studio Artists out of Baldwin City Kansas, along with award-winning Lawrence artist Thelma Simons currently have their work on display throughout the Judicial and Law Enforcement Center.

Join or Renew Registration

Please complete and submit the 2023 Registration Form and the $50 registration fee (check only made payable to “Michael J Malone Law Library”) to the Clerk of the District Court:

Clerk of the District Court
111 East 11th Street
Lawrence, KS 66044

Important! Checks only. Payments no longer accepted in the Law Library.

In order to meet the statutory obligation pursuant to K.S.A. 20-3126, the payment must be received by January 15, 2022. Attorneys whose registration is not paid by that date may not file pleadings or documents until paid.

About the Library

Formation

The Douglas County Law Library was established under the auspices of the District Court of Douglas County, Kansas, pursuant to Kansas Statutes 20-3126 through 20-3132, and opened on May 1, 2003. On August 28, 2014, it was renamed the Michael J. Malone Douglas County Law Library for the Honorable Michael J. Malone, who was the driving force behind the establishment of the Law Library. The Law Library is open to the general public as noted on this website. Licensed attorneys in Douglas County who have paid their annual Law Library Registration Fee and been issued a key have access 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Attorneys should contact the Library about getting a key. 

Attorneys who have not paid their Registration Fee are prohibited from filing any and all transactions with the Clerk of the District Court until the fee is paid. They also are ineligible to run for one of the five positions reserved for attorneys on the Michael J. Malone Douglas County Law Library Board of Trustees and to vote in elections for those positions.

Board of Trustees

Michael Jilka
Trustee, President of the Board - Term Expires 3.31.25

Joseph Falls
Trustee, Secretary of the Board - Term expires 3.31.24

Meryl Carver-Allmond
Trustee - Term expires 3.31.25

The Honorable James R. McCabria
Chief Judge, District Court Division IV – Term Expires 3.31.24

The Honorable Catherine Theisen
Judge, District Court Division III  – Term Expires 3.31.24

About the Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees meets quarterly in January, April, July, and October on the third Tuesday of the month at 12:00 noon in the Law Library

The Michael J. Malone Douglas County Law Library Board of Trustees was organized pursuant to Kansas Statute 20-3127(b) which reads: (b) (1) The board of trustees of any law library established or governed under this act in Johnson, Sedgwick and Douglas counties shall consist of the following five members:

(A) Two judges of the district court, appointed by a consensus of all judges of the district court in such county; and

(B) three members of such county's bar association, appointed by selection of the county bar association pursuant to the county bar association's bylaws for two-year terms.

(2) The board of trustees of the law library in all other counties shall consist of the district judge or judges of the district court presiding in such county and not less than two attorneys who shall be elected for two-year terms by most of the attorneys residing in the county.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. During public hours, all patrons of the Library have full access to all the Library’s electronic and print resources.

Yes. The Law Library offers a number of opportunities for those interested in volunteering. Contact the library for more information.

Yes. Attorneys may make photocopies utilizing our honors system. Photocopies and prints are 10¢ per page.

Yes. Attorneys may print from the Library's patron workstations. When Library staff members are available, the attorney can pay them for prints. When no staff members are available, prints can be paid for on the honors system utilizing a… Read More

No. The Michael J. Malone Douglas County Law Library is a non-circulating library. All Law Library materials must remain in the Library.

Yes. Photocopies are 10¢ per page.

Judicial and Law Enforcement Building

111 E 11th St
Lawrence, KS 66044
United States

Hours: Tue, Wed & Thu 9am - Noon

Email: Email Us

Phone : (785) 838-2477

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JLE Building