60-2106. Appellate court decisions; school finance issues, limitations. (a) Opinions. It shall be the duty of the judges of an appellate court to prepare and file with the papers in each case, the opinion of the court upon the questions of law arising in the case, within 60 days after the decision of the same; and the opinion so filed shall be treated as a part of the record in the case, but no costs shall be charged therefor, except for copies thereof ordered by a party, and no mandate shall be sent to the court below, until the opinion provided for by this section has been filed.

A memorandum opinion may be prepared in any case where no new question of law is decided or which is otherwise considered as having no value as a precedent. Such a memorandum opinion need not contain a syllabus or statement of facts. In all other cases a formal opinion shall be prepared.

(b) Syllabus. Each formal opinion shall contain a syllabus of the points of law decided, which shall be confined to those questions necessarily arising from the facts in the case.

(c) Judgment and mandate. The supreme court may by rule provide for post decision motions for rehearing or other relief. When under such rule a decision of an appellate court becomes final, such court shall promptly cause to be transmitted to the clerk of the district court its mandate containing such directions as are appropriate under the decision. A copy of the opinion of the court shall accompany and be a part of the mandate. The clerk of the district court shall make a notation thereof on the appearance docket. Such mandate and opinion, without further order of the judge, shall thereupon be a part of the judgment of the court if it is determinative of the action, or shall be controlling in the conduct of any further proceedings necessary in the district court.

(d) As a part of a remedy, preliminary decision or final decision in which a statute or legislative enactment of this state has been held unconstitutional as a violation of article 6 of the Kansas constitution, the appellate court or any master or other person or persons appointed by the appellate court to hear or determine a cause or controversy or to make or enforce any order or remedy ordered by a court pursuant to K.S.A. 60-253, and amendments thereto, or any other provision of law, shall not have the authority to order a school district or any attendance center within a school district to be closed or enjoin the use of all statutes related to the distribution of funds for public education.

History: L. 1963, ch. 303, 60-2106; amended by Supreme Court order dated Jan. 5, 1972; L. 1975, ch. 178, § 30; L. 2005, ch. 2, § 23 (Special Session); July 28.