State v. Mitchell: Kansas Supreme Court Confirms Broad Discretion to Deny Hard-25 Departure and to Impose Consecutive Hard-50 Sentences for Multiple Victims Introduction In State v. Mitchell, No....
Arbitrary-Enforcement Vagueness Challenges Are Inherently Facial and Defendants Have Standing: State v. Stubbs Recasts Kansas Standing Doctrine Introduction In State v. Stubbs, No. 125,003 (Kan. June...
Open Area Means Open to the Public: Kansas Supreme Court Affirms Recreational-Use Immunity for Indoor Libraries and Integral Areas, and Bars New Issues in Post‑Grant Supplemental Briefs Introduction...
No Prudential Exceptions: Mootness Is a Jurisdictional Bar in Kansas — State v. Phipps (Kan. 2025) Introduction In State v. Phipps, the Kansas Supreme Court announced a sweeping recalibration of the...
State v. Wash: Strict Limits on Prosecutorial Argument—Violations of Orders in Limine and “We Know” Statements Are Error; Timely Objection Required for Evidentiary-Based Missteps Introduction In...
State v. Ninh: “Overcome by Force or Fear” Is a Single Unified Means; Subjective Fear Suffices; and “Grooming-as-Force” Requires Evidentiary Support Introduction In State v. Ninh, No. 122,782 (Kan....
State v. Green: Premeditation’s Time-and-Consideration Test Bars Arbitrary-Enforcement Vagueness Claims; Evidentiary Proof Required for Witness “Unavailability”; No Renewed Faretta Colloquy Absent...
State v. Ford: Tethering “Force” to the Sexual Act and Upholding Kansas’s Rape Statute Against Vagueness Court: Supreme Court of Kansas Date: June 27, 2025 Docket No.: 124,236 Introduction This...
“Related in Some Way”: Kansas Supreme Court clarifies “common scheme or plan” joinder and preservation of evidentiary error in State v. Ross Introduction In State v. Ross (Kan. June 13, 2025), the...
No Imperfect Self-Defense Instruction Without Evidence of a Subjective Belief in the Need for Lethal Force; “Sudden Quarrel” Requires Objective Sufficient Provocation — Commentary on State v. Thille...
State v. Brown (Kan. 2025): Constitutional Claims Are Not Cognizable Under K.S.A. 22-3504; Postrelease Supervision Cannot Attach to Off-Grid Life Sentences and May Be Vacated on Appeal Without...
State v. Wilson: K‑9 Sniff of a Lawfully Parked Vehicle Is Not a Search and the Driver–Vehicle Seizure Nexus Breaks When the Driver Cannot Lawfully Drive Introduction In State v. Wilson, No. 125,283...
Kansas Supreme Court Clarifies Pleading and Proof Burdens for Postconviction DNA Testing: Petitioner Must Allege and, If Disputed, Prove Existence of Biological Material Under K.S.A. 21-2512 Case:...
State v. Boatwright: When Accomplice Instructions Are Unnecessary and Prosecutorial Remarks Must Be Read in Context Introduction In State v. Boatwright, No. 125,851 (Kan. May 23, 2025), the Supreme...
No Late-Stage Probation and No “Pattern” from Decades-Old Discipline: Kansas Supreme Court Clarifies Rule 227 and Aggravation Analysis in In re Daniels Introduction In In re Daniels, No. 127,949...
State v. Humphrey: No Objection Needed—K.S.A. 60-404 Does Not Bar Appellate Sufficiency Challenges to Restitution; State Must Prove Amount with Substantial Competent Evidence Court: Supreme Court of...
State v. Young: Clarifying “Prior Criminal Activity” and Reaffirming the High Bar for Hard‑50 Mitigation Introduction In State v. Young (Kan. May 9, 2025), the Kansas Supreme Court affirmed...
Volitional Act Means Voluntary Trigger Pull, Not Intent to Fire: Kansas Supreme Court Adopts Two‑Part Test for PLCAA Immunity in Product‑Liability Suits Introduction In Johnson v. Bass Pro Outdoor...
Meek’s Statutory Approach: All Property Becomes Marital at Commencement of Divorce; No Post‑Judgment Motion Needed to Preserve Legal Error Introduction In In re Marriage of Meek (No. 124,904, Kansas...
When “Transient” Status Is Disputed, Kansas Courts Must Instruct on KORA’s Statutory Definitions—Failure Is Clear Error Introduction In State v. Ballard, the Kansas Supreme Court clarified a critical...