Source or prior law:

G.S. 1868, ch. 80, § 688; L. 1870, ch. 87, § 28; L. 1909, ch. 182, § 714; R.S. 1923, 60-1701.

Law Review and Bar Journal References:

"Mandamus—An Expanded Concept," Ralph W. Muxlow II, 8 W.L.J. 71, 72 (1968).

"Judicial Review of Administrative Action—Kansas Perspectives," David L. Ryan, 19 W.L.J. 423, 426 (1980).

"The Kansas Property Tax: Mischievous, Misunderstood, and Mishandled," Lori M. Callahan and Linda Parks, 22 W.L.J. 318, 332 (1983).

"The New Mandamus—State ex rel. Stephan v. Kansas House of Representatives," Henry E. Couchman, Jr., 33 K.L.R. 733, 745, 747 (1985).

"Waiting for Judgment Day: Negotiating the Interlocutory Appeal in 8 Easy Lessons," Jonathan Paretsky, 78 J.K.B.A. No. 4, 30 (2009).

CASE ANNOTATIONS

Prior law cases, see G.S. 1949, 60-1701 and the 1961 Supp. thereto.

1. "Mandamus lies only to enforce a right in a clearcut case." Lauber v. Firemen's Relief Assn. of Salina, 195 K. 126, 128, 402 P.2d 817.

2. Governing body of township sewage district cannot be compelled by mandamus to add property to district contrary to statute. Paul v. Topeka Township Sewage District, 199 K. 394, 401, 430 P.2d 228.

3. Collateral attack on mandatory injunction relating to assessment of gas leaseholds; courts will not ordinarily substitute their judgment for that of the assessing authority. Mobil Oil Corporation v. McHenry, 200 K. 211, 239, 240, 247, 436 P.2d 982.

4. Error to refuse mandamus to teacher organization requiring local board to enter professional negotiations pursuant to 72-5423. Liberal-NEA v. Board of Education, 211 K. 219, 232, 505 P.2d 651.

5. Mandamus order properly issued granting plaintiff right to open hearing and cross-examination in civil service hearing. Adams v. Marshall, 212 K. 595, 603, 512 P.2d 365.

6. Cited; action under 12-712 not a mandamus action; attorney fees not allowable. Gaslight Villa, Inc. v. City of Lansing, 213 K. 862, 872, 518 P.2d 410.

7. Original action in mandamus seeking order directing the county treasurer to refund ad valorem taxes paid under protest; judgment for plaintiff. Cities Serv. Oil Co. v. Board of County Comm'rs, 224 K. 183, 184, 578 P.2d 718.

8. Mandamus did not compel city to open dedicated street; declaratory relief. Hill v. City of Lawrence, 2 K.A.2d 457, 582 P.2d 1155.

9. Mandamus appropriate remedy where official's refusal to act is based on statute being challenged. Stephens v. Van Arsdale, 227 K. 676, 681, 608 P.2d 972.

10. Mandamus proper remedy where parent is denied access to court's social file in deprived child action; remedy of appeal severely limited. Nunn v. Morrison, 227 K. 730, 731, 608 P.2d 1359.

11. Amendment of mandamus petition adding appeal pursuant to 19-2926 relates back to date of original petition. Martin Marietta Aggregates v. Board of Leavenworth County Comm'rs, 5 K.A.2d 774, 777, 625 P.2d 516.

12. Mandamus action proper to compel board of county commissioners to maintain road along its true course. Gronniger v. Board of Doniphan County Commissioners, 6 K.A.2d 642, 643, 631 P.2d 1252 (1981).

13. Mandamus cannot be used to compel unconstitutional refund of illegal assessment. Wheat v. Finney, 230 K. 217, 222, 630 P.2d 1160 (1981).

14. Original action to compel state official to perform duties under Woman's Club lease. Manhattan Buildings, Inc. v. Hurley, 231 K. 20, 26, 643 P.2d 87 (1982).

15. Mandamus not proper remedy to review out-of-state attorney disqualification order; appeal to court of appeals pursuant to 60-2102 proper. Skahan v. Powell, 8 K.A.2d 204, 207, 653 P.2d 1192 (1982).

16. Cited; conduct of discovery within discretion of trial court, not proper subject of mandamus. Procter & Gamble Co. v. Howard, 233 K. 1025, 1026, 666 P.2d 728 (1983).

17. "Specified duty" of watershed district to strictly comply with general plans for watershed not clear in enabling statutes; mandamus not proper remedy. Huser v. Duck Creek Watershed Dist. No. 59, 234 K. 1, 4, 5, 668 P.2d 172 (1983).

18. Unless order of trial court denies litigant a right or privilege existing as matter of law, discretion of court not controlled by mandamus. Wesley Medical Center v. Clark, 234 K. 13, 16, 669 P.2d 209 (1983).

19. No absolute duty upon director of penitentiary requiring granting of interview to producers of television show. Arney v. Director, Kansas State Penitentiary, 234 K. 257, 261, 671 P.2d 559 (1983).

20. Mandamus powers discussed; district judge cannot appoint inmates to represent other inmates in court proceedings. State ex rel. Stephan v. O'Keefe, 235 K. 1022, 1024, 1036, 686 P.2d 171 (1984).

21. Mandamus is proper remedy where purpose is to obtain authoritative interpretation of law notwithstanding adequate remedy at law. State ex rel. Stephan v. Kansas House of Representatives, 236 K. 45, 52, 687 P.2d 622 (1984).

22. Statement that plaintiff was not an acceptable candidate failed to meet defendant's rules mandate to state cause of rejection. Tew v. Topeka Police & Fire Civ. Serv. Comm'n, 237 K. 96, 99, 101, 697 P.2d 1279 (1985).

23. Error to issue mandamus without hearing on duty of prison director (75-5252) regarding access to prison library (K.A.R. 44-12-701). Bagby v. Rayl, 237 K. 365, 366, 368, 699 P.2d 521 (1985).

24. Mandamus not appropriate to redress past violations of KOMA; injunctive relief more closely tailored for redress. Stevens v. City of Hutchinson, 11 K.A.2d 290, 726 P.2d 279 (1986).

25. Cited; present system for appointment of legal counsel (22-4501 et seq.) as unconstitutional examined. State ex rel. Stephan v. Smith, 242 K. 336, 348, 747 P.2d 816 (1987).

26. Racing commission's lack of authority to refund deposit of forfeited licensee (74-8815) determined. State ex rel. Stephan v. Kansas Racing Comm'n, 246 K. 708, 716, 792 P.2d 971 (1990).

27. Mandamus appropriate remedy for tenured teacher to pursue for salary pending resolution of due process proceedings. McMillen v. U.S.D. No. 380, 253 K. 259, 262, 855 P.2d 896 (1993).

28. Sheriff's mandamus action to force county commission to pay attorney fees dismissed since no significant state issue raised. Long v. Board of Wyandotte County Comm'rs, 254 K. 207, 211, 864 P.2d 724 (1993).

29. County's right to recover full amount of expenses is in substantial dispute, mandamus not appropriate. Board of Harvey County Comm'rs v. Whiteman, 23 K.A.2d 634, 635, 933 P.2d 771 (1997).

30. Resident ratepayer does not have standing to bring mandamus action concerning rural water district contract. Bodine v. Osage County Rural Water Dist. #7, 263 K. 418, 430, 949 P.2d 1104 (1997).

31. Writ of mandamus directing director of accounts and reports to pay vouchers for contested legislative election costs granted. Legislative Coordinating Council v. Stanley, 264 K. 690, 697, 957 P.2d 379 (1998).

32. Under facts, mandamus petition to require judge to commit criminal defendant found not guilty by reason of insanity denied. State v. Becker, 264 K. 804, 807, 958 P.2d 627 (1998).

33. Trial court did not err by awarding attorney fees to plaintiffs as damages. Link, Inc. v. City of Hays, 268 K. 372, 375, 997 P.2d 697 (2000).

34. Mandamus action to prohibit nonattorneys appearing in small claims court dismissed for failure to present justiciable case or controversy. Kansas Bar Ass'n v. Judges of the Third Judicial Dist., 270 K. 489, 14 P.3d 1154 (2000).

35. Mandamus was appropriate action when employer's sole reason not to promote appellants was that promotions were not within scope of veterans' preference status. State ex rel Slusher v. City of Leavenworth, 279 K. 789, 112 P.3d 131 (2005).

36. Mandamus granted; inquisition action of attorney general to obtain unredacted records of 90 women who obtained abortions denied. Alpha Med. Clinic v. Anderson, 280 K. 903, 128 P.3d 364 (2006).

37. Section cited; court discusses when mandamus is a proper remedy. State ex rel. Morrison v. Sebelius, 285 K. 875, 907, 909, 179 P.3d 366 (2008).

38. Cited; court imposes sanctions on former attorney general relating to records taken from attorney general's office. Comprehensive Health of Planned Parenthood v. Kline, 287 K. 372, 409, 427, 197 P.3d 370 (2008).

39. Cited; remedy of mandamus available only to compel performance of clearly defined official duty, not to control discretion. Collins v. Hoeme, 40 K.A.2d 93, 95, 100, 189 P.3d 566 (2008).

40. Writ of mandamus granted requiring the district court to consider various factors regarding claims of privilege and undue burden. Kansas Medical Mut. Ins. Co. v. Svaty, 291 K. 597, 244 P.3d 642 (2010).