Legal

In-house Legal Services

The City of Lawrence Legal Department provides legal support to city staff and elected officials by responding to requests for legal opinions, preparing legal documents, negotiating contracts and providing legal training to city employees.

The City Prosecutor, Municipal Court and Human Relations are divisions of the Legal Department.

City Prosecutor

The City Prosecutor's Office prosecutes municipal ordinance violations, including misdemeanor criminal and traffic violations, in the Municipal Court and represents the City in Municipal Court appeals to appellate courts.

Municipal Court

The Municipal Court Division handles violations of city ordinances including traffic and parking violations within the city limits. The Judge, under the Code of Criminal Procedure, the Code of Municipal Courts, the Kansas Rules of Evidence, and the Lawrence Municipal Code conducts all trials. There are no jury trials in Municipal Court.

Human Relations

The Human Relations Division is a civil rights enforcement agency. It investigates complaints from persons alleging they have been discriminated against in employment, housing, or public accommodations because of race, sex, religion, color, national origin, age, ancestry, sexual orientation, disability or familial status in housing. Human Relations provides education and out reach for the City's anti-discrimination law. The Human Relations Commission serves as the advisory board for the agency. If you believe you have been discriminated against, you can submit an Intake Discrimination Complaint form online. Read the Human Relations ordinance here.