Kansas Case Commentaries

State v. Allison (Kan. 2026): Hard-40 Sentences Are Not “Illegal” Under K.S.A. 22-3504 When Statutory Verdict-Review Procedures Are Followed

Date: Jan 17, 2026

State v. Allison (Kan. 2026): Hard-40 Sentences Are Not “Illegal” Under K.S.A. 22-3504 When Statutory Verdict-Review Procedures Are Followed 1. Introduction In State v. Allison, No. 128,344 (Kan....

Perfect Self-Defense Evidence Necessarily Supports an Imperfect Self-Defense Manslaughter Instruction; Strict Preservation Under K.S.A. 60-404 and Narrow Doyle “Open-the-Door” Impeachment

Date: Jan 17, 2026

Perfect Self-Defense Evidence Necessarily Supports an Imperfect Self-Defense Manslaughter Instruction; Strict Preservation Under K.S.A. 60-404 and Narrow Doyle “Open-the-Door” Impeachment Case: State...

K.S.A. 22-3216(2) Requires Fact-Pleaded Suppression Motions to Trigger the State’s Burden and Preserve Appellate Review

Date: Jan 17, 2026

K.S.A. 22-3216(2) Requires Fact-Pleaded Suppression Motions to Trigger the State’s Burden and Preserve Appellate Review Introduction State v. Anderson (Kan. 2026) addresses a recurring procedural...

State v. Butler: Victim’s Age Is a Protected-Class Element Under K.S.A. 21-5601(b)(1) (No Knowledge Required)

Date: Jan 10, 2026

State v. Butler: Victim’s Age Is a Protected-Class Element Under K.S.A. 21-5601(b)(1) (No Knowledge Required) Introduction In State v. Butler (Kan. Jan. 9, 2026), the Kansas Supreme Court affirmed...

Stayed Reciprocal Suspension and Coordinated Probation in Kansas Attorney Discipline: Commentary on In re Kort

Date: Dec 28, 2025

Stayed Reciprocal Suspension and Coordinated Probation in Kansas Attorney Discipline: Commentary on In re Kort I. Introduction The Kansas Supreme Court’s decision in In re Kort, No. 129,389 (Dec. 26,...

State v. Volle: Limiting Principles in Digital Search Warrants, Inmate Mail Privacy, and the Scope of Felony Murder in Kansas

Date: Dec 14, 2025

State v. Volle: Limiting Principles in Digital Search Warrants, Inmate Mail Privacy, and the Scope of Felony Murder in Kansas I. Introduction In State v. Volle, No. 127,745 (Kan. Dec. 12, 2025), the...

State v. McCray: Excluding Third-Party Liability Theories from Out-of-State Conviction Comparability Under the Kansas Sentencing Guidelines

Date: Dec 14, 2025

State v. McCray: Excluding Third-Party Liability Theories from Out-of-State Conviction Comparability Under the Kansas Sentencing Guidelines I. Introduction In State v. McCray, No. 125,798 (Kan. Dec....

State v. Macormac: Minimal On‑the‑Record Justification Is Sufficient to Sustain Consecutive Sentences in Kansas

Date: Dec 6, 2025

State v. Macormac: Minimal On‑the‑Record Justification Is Sufficient to Sustain Consecutive Sentences in Kansas I. Introduction The Kansas Supreme Court’s decision in State v. Macormac, No. 128,361...

Coupling Bernhardt and Stanley Premeditation Instructions and Refining Sentencing Rules: Commentary on State v. Romey

Date: Dec 6, 2025

Coupling Bernhardt and Stanley Premeditation Instructions and Refining Sentencing Rules: Commentary on State v. Romey Introduction In State v. Romey, No. 127,299 (Kan. Dec. 5, 2025), the Kansas...

State v. Cunningham: Admissibility of Pornographic Web Bookmarks to Prove Sexual Intent and the Limits of Golden Rule Arguments in Kansas

Date: Dec 6, 2025

State v. Cunningham: Admissibility of Pornographic Web Bookmarks to Prove Sexual Intent and the Limits of Golden Rule Arguments in Kansas I. Introduction In State v. Cunningham, No. 125,865 (Kan....

Sentencing Does Not Terminate District Court Jurisdiction Over Motions to Arrest Judgment: Commentary on City of Mission v. VanHorn

Date: Nov 29, 2025

Sentencing Does Not Terminate District Court Jurisdiction Over Motions to Arrest Judgment: Commentary on City of Mission v. VanHorn I. Introduction The Kansas Supreme Court’s decision in City of...

State v. Johnson: Police Pursuit Without Sirens, the Meaning of “Reckless Driving,” and the Limits of the Specific-vs-General Offense Doctrine in Kansas

Date: Nov 29, 2025

State v. Johnson: Police Pursuit Without Sirens, the Meaning of “Reckless Driving,” and the Limits of the Specific-vs-General Offense Doctrine in Kansas Introduction In State v. Johnson, No. 126,626...

Postconviction Discovery and the Materiality of Impeachment Evidence: Commentary on State v. Butler (Kan. 2025)

Date: Nov 23, 2025

Postconviction Discovery and the Materiality of Impeachment Evidence: A Commentary on State v. Butler, 125,636 (Kan. Nov. 21, 2025) I. Introduction The Kansas Supreme Court’s decision in State v....

In re Wagle: Generic Conflict Waivers Are Insufficient, and Seeking a Waiver Does Not Establish a “Knowing” KRPC 1.7 Violation

Date: Nov 16, 2025

In re Wagle: Generic Conflict Waivers Are Insufficient, and Seeking a Waiver Does Not Establish a “Knowing” KRPC 1.7 Violation Introduction This commentary analyzes the Kansas Supreme Court’s...

Domestic‑Violence Misdemeanor Conviction Suffices to Disarm: Kansas Upholds Five‑Year Firearm Ban Without Individual Dangerousness Finding

Date: Nov 16, 2025

Domestic‑Violence Misdemeanor Conviction Suffices to Disarm: Kansas Upholds Five‑Year Firearm Ban Without Individual Dangerousness Finding Introduction In State v. McCray (Kan. Nov. 14, 2025), the...

State v. Palmer: The PIK 52.140 Foreseeability Paragraph Is Legal Error in Attempted-Aggravated-Robbery Prosecutions, But Not Clear Error Where the Jury Also Finds Principal Liability and Specific Intent; Fatal Resistance to Armed Home Intrusions Is Foreseeable

Date: Oct 25, 2025

State v. Palmer: The PIK 52.140 Foreseeability Paragraph Is Legal Error in Attempted-Aggravated-Robbery Prosecutions, But Not Clear Error Where the Jury Also Finds Principal Liability and Specific...

State v. Yeargin-Charles: “Securely Fastened” Is an Independent Requirement under K.S.A. 8-133(c), and Observations of an Askew, “Flapping” Plate Create Reasonable Suspicion for a Traffic Stop

Date: Oct 18, 2025

State v. Yeargin-Charles: “Securely Fastened” Is an Independent Requirement under K.S.A. 8-133(c), and Observations of an Askew, “Flapping” Plate Create Reasonable Suspicion for a Traffic Stop...

Harding v. Capitol Federal Savings Bank: Ambiguous “Improper Charges” Notice Clauses Do Not Encompass Bank-Imposed Fees and Must Be Construed Against the Drafter

Date: Oct 18, 2025

Harding v. Capitol Federal Savings Bank: Ambiguous “Improper Charges” Notice Clauses Do Not Encompass Bank-Imposed Fees and Must Be Construed Against the Drafter Court: Supreme Court of Kansas Date:...

State v. Beck (Kan. 2025): No State-Name Requirement on License Plates; Totality-of-the-Circumstances Standard Replaces “Safe Following Distance” Test

Date: Oct 11, 2025

State v. Beck (Kan. 2025): No State-Name Requirement on License Plates; Totality-of-the-Circumstances Standard Replaces “Safe Following Distance” Test Introduction In State v. Beck, No. 126,350 (Kan....

Regulatory Preambles Do Not Preempt; Federal Permission Does Not Bar State Prohibition: The Kansas Supreme Court’s Harmonization of CMS’s Vaccine Rule and Kansas’ No‑Sincerity‑Inquiry Statute

Date: Sep 27, 2025

Regulatory Preambles Do Not Preempt; Federal Permission Does Not Bar State Prohibition Commentary on Powerback Rehabilitation, LLC v. Kansas Department of Labor, No. 127,544 (Kan. Sept. 26, 2025)...