Kathryn Hoefer Vratil at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Court
- U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas
- Jurisdiction
- Kansas · Federal
- Judicial service
- October 9, 1992–present
Kathryn Hoefer Vratil
Judge · U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas
Available research
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Biography
Professional career
- Judge, Prairie Village Kansas Municipal Court, 1990-1992
- Private practice, Kansas City, KS, 1978-1992
- Law clerk, Hon. Earl E. O'Connor, U.S. District Court, District of Kansas, 1975-1978
Judicial service
- Judge, District Court, D. Kansas, 1992-2014
Education
- University of Kansas · B.A., 1971
Personal record
Born 1949 · Manhattan, KS
Courtroom rules and guidance
Courtroom Technology
Judge-specific source
Contact Jeff Hokanson, courtroom deputy, at 913-735-2207 with any questions. The courtroom is equipped with an advanced AV system that includes monitors for presentation of evidence at the bench, witness stand, counsel tables and jury box, an integrated document camera (ELMO) and HDMI ports at counsel tables to allow for the use of laptop computers…Guidelines%20for%20Proceedings%20Before%20Judge%20Vratil%209-9-24.pdf ↗
Civil Remote Testimony
In federal district-court civil proceedings, testimony is ordinarily taken in open court; remote contemporaneous testimony requires good cause in compelling circumstances and appropriate safeguards.
For good cause in compelling circumstances and with appropriate safeguards, the court may permit testimony in open court by contemporaneous transmission from a different location.Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court ↗
Criminal Recording And Broadcasting
Federal district courts may not permit courtroom photography or broadcasting during criminal judicial proceedings unless a statute or another federal rule provides an exception.
Except as otherwise provided by a statute or these rules, the court must not permit the taking of photographs in the courtroom during judicial proceedings or the broadcasting of judicial proceedings from the courtroom.Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited ↗
Sources
Federal Judicial Center biography
Identity source · HTML · checked July 25, 2026
https://www.fjc.gov/node/1389216CourtListener judicial biographical directory
Identity source · HTML · checked August 2, 2026
https://www.courtlistener.com/person/3331/kathryn-hoefer-vratil/Guidelines%20for%20Proceedings%20Before%20Judge%20Vratil%209-9-24.pdf
Judge research source · PDF · checked July 24, 2026
https://www.ksd.uscourts.gov/sites/ksd/files/Guidelines%20for%20Proceedings%20Before%20Judge%20Vratil%209-9-24.pdfFederal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-civil-procedureFederal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
https://www.uscourts.gov/court-records/access-court-proceedings/remote-public-access-proceedings/history-cameras-broadcasting-and-remote-public-access-courts