In a letter to the editor published in the July 18, 2006, issue of the Newton Kansan, Wilma Loganbill of Hesston told of her feelings on the death of her son and punishment for his killer. "Murder leaves a multitude of emotions and pain is the worst. A pain so deep, high and wide, no words are big enough to describe it. You can't get around or through it. And then there is … [Read more...] about Murder Victim's Mother Says Death Penalty Isn't the Answer
US Supreme Court Issues Ruling in Marsh Case: Kansas Death Penalty is Constitutional
In a narrow, 5-4 decision made public on Monday, June 26, 2006, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Kansas' death penalty law is constitutional. The ruling resulted from the case of Kansas v. Marsh. The opinion, written by Justice Thomas, says that Kansas' statute satisfies the constitutional mandates "because it rationally narrows the class of death-eligible defendants and … [Read more...] about US Supreme Court Issues Ruling in Marsh Case: Kansas Death Penalty is Constitutional
Coalition's Response to the Supreme Court Ruling in Marsh
Although we are disappointed with today's decision, it is important to point out what the U.S. Supreme Court did not say. The court did not rule that the death penalty is good. It did not say that the death penalty is fair. It did not find that the death penalty saves tax dollars. It did not state that the death penalty deters others from killing. This death penalty case … [Read more...] about Coalition's Response to the Supreme Court Ruling in Marsh
League of Women Voters Supports Abolition of the Death Penalty
The League of Women Voters of the United States has adopted an official national policy calling for abolition of the death penalty. During the organization's national convention in early June, 2006, delegates adopted a new policy stating, "The League of Women Voters of the United States supports the abolition of the death penalty." The League of Women Voters of Kansas has had a … [Read more...] about League of Women Voters Supports Abolition of the Death Penalty
Elms's Death Sentence Gone, Now Sentenced to Hard 40
On November 20, 2004, Stanley Elms, convicted of the 1998 rape and murder of Regina Gray, was re-sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole for 40 years. Elms was originally sentenced to die and spent the intervening years on death row, but his sentenced was affected by the Kansas Supreme Court's ruling in the Kleypas case which would have called for a … [Read more...] about Elms's Death Sentence Gone, Now Sentenced to Hard 40
Bill Kurtis at KCADP Annual Meeting
"The death penalty should be off the table," says Kurtis. As a law student at Washburn in the 1960's, Bill Kurtis supported the death penalty. He "believed in the system" and thought that it would be infallible when death was a possible punishment. On November 11, 2006, he told a crowd of 250 people at his alma mater that he now believes differently. "Because of too many … [Read more...] about Bill Kurtis at KCADP Annual Meeting
KCADP – Post Audit report gives more evidence as to why the Kansas death penalty should be ended
In the report, released December 19, 2003, the Division of Legislative Post Audit reported that the average cost of a death penalty case is 70% more than that of a non death penalty homicide case. This study compared the cost of a case taken to execution and a case taken to through decades of incarceration to the end of a prison sentence. This added cost of a death penalty law … [Read more...] about KCADP – Post Audit report gives more evidence as to why the Kansas death penalty should be ended
Kansas Officials Voice Concern about Cost of Death Penalty
* In her annual report on the activities of the Kansas Supreme Court, Chief Justice Kay McFarland said: "The Court also faces hearing three more death penalty appeals, which will severely strain our limited resources. So far only one such appeal has come through our Court since the reinstatement of the death penalty. This was State v. Kleypas, 272 Kan. 894, 40 P.3rd 139 … [Read more...] about Kansas Officials Voice Concern about Cost of Death Penalty
Statement issued by KCADP following the Kansas Supreme Court's ruling in the Kleypas case
The experience of Kansas' use of the death penalty these past seven years shows that we are no different than other states. Today's court decision verifies what opponents of the death penalty have said in the past twenty plus years of death penalty debate in our state: Our criminal justice system makes mistakes. The Coalition regrets that the Court did not find the entire … [Read more...] about Statement issued by KCADP following the Kansas Supreme Court's ruling in the Kleypas case
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