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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Death penalty skeptics in Kansas seize ‘pro-life,’ high cost, wrongful conviction arguments
Rep. Bill Sutton’s opposition to the death penalty was conceived through Catholic faith, magnified by conservative wariness of government and molded into a cause during more than a decade of service to the Kansas House.
Death penalty skeptics in Kansas seize ‘pro-life,’ high cost, wrongful conviction arguments
Rep. Bill Sutton’s opposition to the death penalty was conceived through Catholic faith, magnified by conservative wariness of government and molded into a cause during more than a decade of service to the Kansas House.
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Brady/Giglio • Rontarus Washington Jr. • Albert Wilson • Justin Spiehs
MORe crime & courts
August Rudisell / @KsScanner
Lawrence Police Department needs better training on racial and cultural divides, report finds
Of all racial and ethnic groups, Black women have the worst interactions with the Lawrence Police Department, some community members interviewed for a consultants’ report said. The report, based on listening sessions with members of the community and other stakeholders, urges the department to become more culturally competent, better engage with the community and put in place firm metrics and measurable goals.
Mackenzie Clark
Traffic court resumes in Douglas County after COVID-19 pause
Traffic court is resuming on Friday mornings in Douglas County after being placed on hold since March 2020.
Mackenzie Clark
Judge could grant Sarah Gonzales-McLinn a new trial — but attorneys want to agree to ‘hard 25’ sentence
An attorney fighting to get Sarah Gonzales-McLinn’s hard-50 sentence overturned has come to an agreement with prosecutors: they’re asking for 25 years to life instead for the 2014 murder.
KU professor’s memoir shares two decades teaching writing classes at Douglas County jail
In an upcoming memoir, “Words is a Powerful Thing,” Brian Daldorph, a senior lecturer in KU’s English department, reflects on 20 years of teaching a writing class at the Douglas County jail. He also shares works of more than 50 students he’s taught over the years.
Mackenzie Clark
Where did the livestreams go? Most Douglas County District Court hearings are off YouTube
Although many Douglas County District Court hearings are still occurring via Zoom videoconferencing, few are now being publicly livestreamed on YouTube, in large part because of the burden to court staff.
Douglas County data analyst: Racial disparities in bail bonds may be further evidence of systemic racism
After a presentation on racial disparities in bail bonds, the CJCC wants to take a broader look at bond overall, the role it plays, and whether it’s effective in its overall purpose — and drill deeper to get more data.
Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector
Kansas lawmakers make sexual extortion a crime, raise penalties for eluding police
A criminal justice bill passed by the House and Senate makes sexual extortion a crime, enforces stronger penalties for attempting to elude a police officer and allows a spouse to be charged with sexual battery.
Report by Matt Cravens for Douglas County CJCC
Black people face higher bail bonds in Douglas County, report shows; CJCC to discuss
On average, Black people must pay higher bond amounts than people of other races to be released from the Douglas County jail, according to a new report.
Mackenzie Clark/Lawrence Times
Retrial for Rontarus Washington Jr. could come in 2022; alternative suspect won’t be charged in alleged sex crime
Rontarus Washington Jr. appeared in court with one of his new Innocence Project defense attorneys Tuesday afternoon, and two others appeared via Zoom. Meanwhile, the Franklin County attorney says he will not prosecute the defense’s alternative suspect in an alleged sex crime attempt.
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Douglas County sheriff failed to preserve a recording in felony case, he testifies; this isn’t the first time
Douglas County Sheriff Jay Armbrister sat at the witness stand during a jury trial last month and testified that he failed to save a recording in a high-level felony case. That wasn’t the first time.
