Appeals court sets Jan. 12 arguments in Johnson County annexation case

JOHNSON COUNTY - The Kansas Court of Appeals has scheduled oral arguments for Jan. 12, 2027, in case No. 129833, according to the Topeka docket.

The case, captioned State of Kansas ex rel. Kris Kobach, Attorney General, appellant and cross-appellee, versus the City of Edgerton, appellee and cross-appellant, originated in Johnson County and is listed in the 9:30 a.m. session at the Kansas Judicial Center, Court of Appeals Courtroom, 301 SW 10th Avenue, Topeka, before Chief Judge Sarah E. Warner and Judges Jacy J. Hurst and Rachel L. Pickering. Counsel are Dwight R. Carswell for the state and Todd A. Luckman for the city.

The city's Aug. 20, 2025, news release said a Johnson County judge has ruled in favor of the City of Edgerton in a lawsuit filed by Attorney General Kris Kobach over annexations the City approved in December of 2020, and that Judge David Hauber ruled the State did not prove their case and the property in question "was not a narrow corridor" under the law. K.S.A. 12-520(g) bars using that section to annex a narrow corridor of land to gain access to noncontiguous tracts and requires a tangible value and purpose other than enhancing future annexations.

Source: Kansas Court of Appeals docket, Jan. 12-13, 2027, Topeka; K.S.A. 12-520; City of Edgerton news release, Aug. 20, 2025.