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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Cuyler Dunn/Lawrence Times
Prosecutors lay out evidence against teens charged in Hawk shooting; murder charge against one dropped
Bar employees, students and police testified Tuesday about what happened the night of a fatal shooting last month at the Hawk, a popular bar near KU’s campus.
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Brady/Giglio • Rontarus Washington Jr. • Albert Wilson • Justin Spiehs
MORe crime & courts
Molly Adams/Lawrence Times
Mark Simpson to serve as next chief judge of Douglas County District Court
Judge Mark Simpson will be the next chief judge for Douglas County District Court, the Kansas Judicial Branch announced Wednesday.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Virtual event to shed light on amendment proposing change to Kansas Supreme Court selection process
Women for Kansas will host a virtual talk to inform voters about a 2026 ballot question proposing that voters elect Kansas Supreme Court justices, rather than justices being selected through a merit-based process.
Kansas abortion trial resumes with state’s witnesses testifying about regretful decisions
Two women testified in a trial Wednesday that they regretted their abortions. However, their abortions took place before the state laws at the center of the case, which impose requirements on abortion providers and patients, were in effect.
Mackenzie Clark/Lawrence Times
Albert Wilson will not be compensated in wrongful conviction case, judge rules
A judge has ruled that Albert Wilson, whose conviction in a Lawrence rape case was overturned, is not entitled to compensation under the state’s wrongful conviction statute. The judge did not rule on whether Wilson was actually innocent.
Kansas judges, attorneys weigh ‘fragmented’ remote court proceedings as Supreme Court seeks change
Kansas Legal Services relies on remote court appearances in 22 counties in the southwest part of the state after losing its only attorney in the region in August. However, some judges refuse to allow virtual hearings or appearances.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Judge denies retrial for Topeka man found guilty of murdering Lawrence musician; sentencing delayed
A judge on Friday denied a Topeka man found guilty of first-degree murder his request for a retrial. His sentencing is now set for December.
Maya Hodison/Lawrence Times
Lawrence school district personnel testify in child sex crime case against former speech pathologist
Special education personnel in the Lawrence school district testified Friday that a former Prairie Park Elementary speech pathologist brought students without individualized education plans into private screenings, which is against policy.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Court decision will allow transgender Kansans to change gender markers on their driver’s licenses
Thanks to a Kansas Supreme Court decision this week, transgender Kansans will soon be able to change the gender markers on their driver’s licenses.
Maya Hodison/Lawrence Times
Preliminary hearing underway in sex crime case against former speech pathologist
In interviews with a child advocate, Prairie Park Elementary students had used “uncomfortable,” “strange,” “weird” and “suspicious” to describe what they said they’d experienced by a former speech pathologist now charged with sex crimes.
Kansas abortion restrictions go on trial, with OB-GYNs taking the stand
A trial that could determine whether state-imposed abortion restrictions can remain in Kansas began Friday with testimony from the abortion providers behind the challenge.





