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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Brady/Giglio • Rontarus Washington Jr. • Albert Wilson • Justin Spiehs
MORe crime & courts
Should Douglas County have a public defender office? Share your thoughts Sunday
Local residents can share their opinion of whether Douglas County should have an adult felony public defender office during a meeting coming up Sunday afternoon.
Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector
Former D.A. faces ethics complaint for failing to stop misconduct in Topeka murder trial
Former Shawnee County District Attorney Chad Taylor faces an ethics complaint for prosecutorial misconduct by his assistant during the 2012 murder trial of Dana Chandler.
Kansas attorney general, Douglas County DA trade barbs on election law
Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt reinforced Monday that his office would, in fact, prosecute a law that caused activist groups to cease voter registration drives for fear of felony charges — including in Douglas County, where District Attorney Suzanne Valdez said her office would not enforce the law.
Mackenzie Clark
Researchers to share findings from law enforcement contact study
Researchers who have been gathering data to determine whether racial-, ethnic- and other bias-based policing is a problem in Lawrence and Douglas County will present their preliminary findings on Monday, Aug. 9.
Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector
Kansas A.G. subpoenas reporter’s notes from book on wrongful murder conviction
The Kansas Attorney General’s office has issued a subpoena commanding a journalist to turn over information he gathered while writing a book and news stories about a Jefferson County man who served 16 years in prison for a murder he didn’t commit.
Despite Douglas County DA refusing to prosecute, nonprofits still wary to resume voter registration
Douglas County District Attorney Suzanne Valdez said Tuesday that she won’t prosecute anyone under a new state law that caused nonprofits to halt voter registration efforts at the start of July, but the groups won’t immediately resume engaging with voters.
Mackenzie Clark / The Lawrence Times
Douglas County DA will not prosecute violations of new law that criminalizes looking like an election worker
Douglas County District Attorney Suzanne Valdez announced Tuesday that she would not prosecute violations of a newly effective law in the state of Kansas that makes it a felony for individuals to engage in conduct that would make a person think they are an elections worker.
Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector
Attorney general to appeal emergency-power decision, warns of ‘legal anarchy’
The Kansas AG wants the state Supreme Court to consider overturning a ruling that struck down a law that granted students, parents and employees the opportunity to challenge public school district policy and reduced a governor’s authority during statewide emergencies.
August Rudisell/The Lawrence Times
Lawrence skateboarder injured during arrest files lawsuit against ex-officer, prosecutors
An ex-Lawrence police officer constructed a criminal case against a skateboarder in an attempt to avoid, essentially, the excessive force lawsuit that was filed Friday in federal court, the complaint alleges.
Mackenzie Clark/Lawrence Times
Rontarus Washington Jr.’s retrial date set — July 2022
Rontarus Washington Jr. will go to trial, for the second time, in 367 days.





