Category: Trials

Updated Transitional Release Requirements

In re Care & Treatment of Quillen, No. 120, 184 (Kan. Ct. App. Oct. 18, 2019). Issue: Is the State required to prove “serious difficulty in controlling behavior,” when arguing a person does not meet the qualifications for …

Party Benefitting from Erroneous Judicial Comment Bears Burden

State v. Boothby, No. 116,505 (Kan. Sept. 6, 2019). Issue: A district judge made an erroneous comment regarding Boothby’s case in front of the jury.  Is an erroneous judicial comment made in front of a jury that is not part …

Simultaneous Consideration No Longer Required for Kansas Homicide Instructions

State v. Sims, No. 115,038 (Kan. Nov. 30, 2018) Issue: The Kansas Supreme Court has previously held that courts must instruct juries to consider both greater and lesser offenses simultaneously in homicide cases. After years of criticism, should courts still require simultaneous instructions? Answer: No. Requiring …

Marital Discord Isn’t Always a § 60-455 “Crime or Civil Wrong”

State v. Campbell, No. 116,430 (Kan. Aug. 17, 2018).  Issue: The Kansas Rules of Evidence prohibit using evidence of past “crimes or civil wrongs” as character evidence (with limited exceptions). For purposes of evidence, is marital discord a past …