Members of the public may access public documents in Douglas County District Court criminal cases by visiting the Kansas District Court Public Access Portal.
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August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Fatal shooting at Hawk stemmed from argument with bar staff, Lawrence police allege
A confrontation at the Hawk, a popular bar near KU’s campus, escalated from a dispute with bar staff members to gunfire that killed an 18-year-old and left a 16-year-old critically injured, court records show.
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Andrea Albright/Lawrence Times
Jury trial set for teen charged in shooting death of Lawrence 17-year-old
A 19-year-old Lawrence man pleaded not guilty to an upgraded murder charge in another teen’s shooting death on Wednesday, and the court set his jury trial date.
Kansas Bar Association grades judges ahead of retention vote
The seven Kansas Court of Appeals judges up for retention have been scored by attorneys with the Kansas Bar Association for retention recommendations.
Meet the candidates for Douglas County district attorney
Dakota Loomis (D) and Mike Warner (R) are vying for the top local prosecutor job, Douglas County district attorney. They each shared why voters should choose them, concrete actions they’d take to improve the local legal system and more.
ACLU challenges Kansas death penalty as ‘arbitrary, racially discriminatory, unreliable’
A coalition led by the American Civil Liberties Union has asked a state court to abolish the death penalty in Kansas, arguing it violates constitutional rights, is racially biased and fails to deter crime.
Case record expunged for defendant acquitted in shooting death of 14-year-old Lawrence boy
The case record for the defendant who was acquitted in the 2023 shooting death of a Lawrence boy will be sealed after a Douglas County District Court judge granted expungement Wednesday.
Andrea Albright/Lawrence Times
Witnesses at hearing for man charged in woman’s stabbing death describe commotion at North Lawrence camp
A Lawrence man charged with first-degree murder in connection with the stabbing death of a female friend had a jovial but volatile relationship with the victim, according to testimony during a preliminary hearing on Monday.
Former police chief, who raided Kansas newspaper, returns to face criminal charges
Former Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody returned Monday to the town where he raided a newspaper to face a dozen journalists along with a felony charge for his actions after the raid.
Andrea Albright/Lawrence Times
Charge elevated to first-degree murder for teen charged with shooting friend
A 19-year-old Lawrence man will stand trial for first-degree murder after prosecutors said his childhood friend was shot in the back seven times — evidence they said showed the shooter planned to kill.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Douglas County DA candidates weigh prosecutorial experience, downplay politics
One candidate for Douglas County district attorney touted his career in prosecution, and the other said his community ties help compensate for less experience. But both agreed during a forum Monday evening that the office needs revitalization.
Andrea Albright/Lawrence Times
Judge hopes family has closure after sentencing Lawrence man to 31 months in fatal shooting
A judge denied probation for a Lawrence man who expressed deep regret and pleaded no contest in the June 2023 shooting death of a 20-year-old Topeka man, sentencing him Friday to about 2.5 years in prison.





