Jeff

Conversation About the Death Penalty

Board Member Jeff Wicks and staff member Christine Cook will be the featured speakers at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 24th at College Hill United Methodist Church in Wichita.  They will discuss the pending abolition bills as well as provide information about the death penalty in Kansas.  The event is being hosted by the United Methodist Women.  It is free and open to the … [Read more...] about Conversation About the Death Penalty

State to Seek Death Penalty in Aguirre Case

On March 22, 2010, the state of Kansas announced that it would seek the death penalty against Luis Aguirre in the October 2009 deaths of 18-year-old Tanya Maldonado and their son, 25-month-old Juan Maldonado. Aguirre, who has entered a plea of not guilty, has been held in the Riley County Jail since last October. This is the first time the death penalty has been sought in a … [Read more...] about State to Seek Death Penalty in Aguirre Case

Cheatham to Get New Sentencing Hearing

On February 22, 2010, Shawnee County District Court Judge Mark Braun issued a decision that will give Phillip Cheatham a new sentencing hearing. His attorney, Dennis Hawver, had testified at an earlier hearing that he believed he provided ineffective counsel. Hawver, who had never tried a capital case, stated that he hadn't talked to other defense attorneys about trying … [Read more...] about Cheatham to Get New Sentencing Hearing

Kansas could abolish death penalty to cut costs

From the Daily Kansan. By Erin Brown The state budget crisis has forced Kansas legislators to re-evaluate state spending, leading some lawmakers to review the cost and effectiveness of the Kansas death penalty law. The Kansas legislature is reviewing Senate Bills 208 and 375, both of which would abolish the death penalty in Kansas. Senate Bill 208 was introduced and … [Read more...] about Kansas could abolish death penalty to cut costs

Editorial: Kansas needs to repeal the death penalty law

From The Daily Kansan. By Caitlin Thornbrugh With the majority of the nation looking to save even a few dollars, it is not a surprise that the state of Kansas is trying to economize a budget that is becoming more and more of a problem. On Friday, a Senate committee will review a proposal to repeal the death penalty in Kansas. The Senate should vote in favor of the … [Read more...] about Editorial: Kansas needs to repeal the death penalty law

Switching off the death penalty

Today The Christian Science Monitor calls for an end of the Death Penalty in Kansas. If the bill passes, Kansas will become the third state in three years to eliminate capital punishment – another encouraging milestone on the way to ending this practice in America. The final words of the commentary sum up what everyone needs to know and understand; A government’s job … [Read more...] about Switching off the death penalty

Salina Journal Ponders Death Versus Dollars

An editorial in the Salina Journal of January 4, 2010 discusses the fact that Kansas lawmakers will start talking about eliminating the death penalty this month, but the debate will not be based on moral perspectives. Rather, they will be about money. Editor and Publisher Tom Bell says it is sad that matters of life and death in the Kansas Legislature will boil down to dollars … [Read more...] about Salina Journal Ponders Death Versus Dollars