What Butler County Court Dockets Show
A docket is the court's chronological case log. In Butler County District Court, the docket can show when a complaint, petition, answer, motion, order, hearing notice, warrant entry, plea, judgment, satisfaction, or appeal was filed. It can also show hearing dates, judge or division information, financial entries, and case status when those items are public. The docket helps a reader see what happened and what may happen next.
The docket is not the full court file. A docket line may say that a motion was filed, but the motion itself may require a courthouse terminal, a copy request, or clerk review. In criminal cases, a docket may show arraignment, plea, sentencing, bond, revocation, or diversion activity. In civil cases, it may show summons, service returns, judgments, garnishments, and liens. For full document access, use the broader Butler County court records process after the docket identifies the case number.
- Docket
- A dated list of events and filings in a court case.
- Disposition
- The current or final outcome of a case or charge.
- Continuance
- A court-approved postponement of a hearing or deadline.
- Service Return
- A filing showing whether legal papers were delivered.
Find Butler County Court Dockets Online
District court dockets are searched through Kansas District Court CaseSearch. The portal covers public district court cases statewide, including Butler County cases in the 13th Judicial District. Search by case number when possible. Party name, business name, and citation searches are useful fallbacks, especially when a person knows the defendant, petitioner, company, or ticket number but not the case number.
- Open CaseSearch and choose the search type that matches the information on hand.
- Enter the case number, party name, business name, or citation number.
- Limit the result to Butler County District Court when the portal displays county or court filters.
- Open the matching case and read the docket entries in date order.
- Call the clerk if the docket is not online, document images are missing, or public file review is needed.
When the district court docket cannot be confirmed online, the clerk access route matters. The 13th Judicial District Butler County page says open files may be reviewed by appointment by calling 316-322-4370, and the requester should provide the case number. Written information requests may use the district court form, and the clerk's office has three business days to respond.
Butler County Docket Entry Fields
A docket entry should be read as a snapshot, not as a full legal conclusion. One line may show that a hearing was set, another that it was continued, and a later line that the case was disposed. For criminal court dockets, charges can change as cases move from complaint to plea or trial. For civil matters, a judgment entry may be followed by collection or satisfaction entries.
| Field | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Entry Date | The date the event, filing, order, or notice was added to the docket. |
| Event Type | Complaint, motion, hearing, order, warrant, plea, judgment, continuance, notice, or appeal. |
| Party or Attorney | The side or counsel associated with the filing when public. |
| Hearing Information | Date, time, division, judge, and hearing type if available. |
| Status | Pending, active, disposed, dismissed, closed, appealed, sealed, or expunged. |
| Document Access | Whether the entry has an online image or must be requested through the clerk. |
Note: A docket line can confirm that an event occurred without showing the full document behind that event.
Butler County District Court Dockets
Butler County is part of the 13th Judicial District with Elk and Greenwood counties. The District Court is the primary trial court for felony criminal cases, civil jury trials, domestic relations, probate, juvenile matters, small claims, limited actions, care and treatment, and appeals from municipal court. The district has four district court judge divisions and two district magistrate judges serving the district.
The 13th Judicial District court administration page lists the Butler County judge divisions in El Dorado. Division 1 is Hon. Jan Satterfield, Division 2 is Hon. Charles Hart, Division 3 is Chief Judge David Ricke, and Division 4 is Hon. Chad Crum. Docket entries may refer to the assigned judge, hearing division, or courtroom, so those division names can help confirm that the result is the right Butler County District Court case.
| Court / Division | Judge or Official | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Butler County District Court | Clerk Renea Albert | 316-322-4370 |
| Division 1 | Hon. Jan Satterfield | 316-322-4396 |
| Division 2 | Hon. Charles Hart | 316-322-4356 |
| Division 3 | Chief Judge David Ricke | 316-322-4351 |
| Division 4 | Hon. Chad Crum | 316-322-4360 |
Butler County Municipal Court Dockets
Municipal courts in Butler County keep separate local calendars and citation records. These courts hear city ordinance, traffic, nuisance, animal control, code, and misdemeanor public offense cases. A municipal case may not appear in CaseSearch unless it is appealed to district court or otherwise reaches the district court system. Contact the city court clerk when the citation or notice names a city court.
The El Dorado Municipal Court page lists local case types and payment routes.
El Dorado handles animal control, misdemeanor, nuisance, and traffic cases, with court most Mondays at 1 p.m. and clerk contact at the police department.
The Augusta Municipal Court page gives a different schedule and access pattern.
Augusta uses a Tuesday rhythm, payment by phone or online through TrafficPayment, and municipal court clerk handling for court-record or report requests.
The Andover Municipal Court page is important because it posts docket categories and payment cautions.
Andover notes that its online payment software is not linked to the court system, so a payer must enter the citation or court-provided balance manually.
The Rose Hill Municipal Court page explains local court process, payment, diversion, appeal rights, and open records.
Rose Hill begins court at 5:30 p.m., uses security screening, and directs closed court-related public records requests to the court clerk by mail, email, fax, or in person.
Butler County Dockets vs Case Records
The docket is the map of the case. The full case record is the file behind the map. A docket entry can help a person decide whether to request copies, attend a hearing, confirm a disposition, or contact the correct division. A full file may contain pleadings, exhibits, orders, certified judgments, decrees, inventories, and documents not displayed in the public online view.
| Docket | Full Case Record | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | List of dated entries | Filed documents, orders, notices, and images where available |
| Best Use | Track status, hearing dates, filings, and disposition | Read the legal document or obtain certified copies |
| Access | Often found through CaseSearch for district court | May require courthouse review or a written copy request |
| Limits | May omit sealed or confidential detail | May be redacted, sealed, or unavailable online |
Municipal Appeals and Butler County Dockets
Municipal court appeals in Kansas go to district court. Rose Hill gives a practical local example: a defendant found guilty of a city ordinance violation may appeal to the District Court of Butler County in El Dorado for a new trial on the original complaint. The Notice of Appeal and appearance bond must be filed within 14 days from judgment under K.S.A. 22-3609 and 22-3610.
That appeal can create a new district court docket path even though the case began in city court. Once the appeal reaches district court, CaseSearch and the Butler County Clerk of the District Court become relevant. Failure to appear can forfeit bond, dismiss the appeal, and return the case to municipal court for execution of the municipal sentence or fine.