photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

The Douglas County Judicial and Law Enforcement Center is pictured on Sept. 4, 2024.

Updated at 2:53 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly on Tuesday signed an executive order declaring Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, as a Day of Mourning in honor of former President Jimmy Carter and ordering that State of Kansas offices be closed.

This coincides with the National Day of Mourning declared by President Joe Biden on Jan. 9, the day of Carter’s funeral. Most federal offices are expected to be closed, including the post office. National days of mourning do not require businesses or banks to close like a federal holiday normally does. The last national day of mourning was when former President George H. W. Bush died in December 2018.

State offices will reopen and resume normal operations on Friday, Jan. 10.

In addition to the Day of Mourning, Gov. Kelly on Monday directed flags throughout Kansas to be flown at half-staff until sunset on Jan. 28.

The Department of Motor Vehicles will be closed on Jan. 9, as well as other state offices in Lawrence.

With possible exceptions, state courts will also close on Jan. 9. In its order observing the day of mourning, the Kansas Supreme Court gives chief judges for the state’s 31 judicial districts discretion to conduct court proceedings that day if they are in the best interest of justice.

The Douglas County District Court will be operating on a limited basis on Jan. 9, with some already scheduled proceedings to go on. For court hearings or probation appointments, parties should stay in touch with their attorneys and/or probation officer to see whether any hearings or appointments will be continued. For court hearings, the court’s website will be updated as changes to any scheduled hearings occur. The self-help center, law library, trustee office, Citizen Review Board and clerk’s office will be closed.