Join us at the 2025 Kansas Coalition Against the Death Penalty Conference! This year we will reflect and learn together under the theme of Repeal to Heal: Death Penalty Repeal Advances the Culture of Life. Register today! The decision to sentence someone to death is a statement that the defendant’s life is disposable. It is a … [Read more...] about Repeal to Heal: Death Penalty Repeal Advances the Culture of Life.
Kansas Cases
The Landscape of the Kansas Death Penalty at 31–Part Three
In part one of this series, we looked at how capital murder is defined in state law and initial decisions by the prosecutor on charging and the question of death notice. In part two, the focus was on decisions about going to trial or offering a plea bargain. That brings us to decision point 3. Decision point 3: Jury and Judge decisions If a capital murder … [Read more...] about The Landscape of the Kansas Death Penalty at 31–Part Three
The Landscape of the Kansas Death Penalty at 31–Part Two
In the first part of this series, we looked at how the law defines capital murder and initial decisions by the prosecutor on charging and the question of death notice. Those are just the first of a series of decision points in Kansas capital cases. Decision point 2: go to trial or plea bargain? In this pre trial phase, both prosecution and defense are … [Read more...] about The Landscape of the Kansas Death Penalty at 31–Part Two
The Landscape of the Kansas Death Penalty at 31–Part One
On July 1st, the Kansas death penalty turned 31 years old. KCADP board members have encountered persons who don’t even know Kansas HAS a death penalty. We hope this article might bring a broader awareness of where capital punishment has been/is being sought in our state. What is capital murder? Under the law, capital murder is defined as intentional … [Read more...] about The Landscape of the Kansas Death Penalty at 31–Part One
Judge Klapper cites critical flaws with Kansas’ death penalty
The Kansas death penalty has been ‘on trial’ before Judge Bill Klapper in Wyandotte District Court since late October 2024. The State Board of Indigent Defense Services, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Kansas ACLU, and attorneys from Hogan Lovells, and Ali & Lockwood filed a constitutional challenge on behalf of two men who were charged with capital murder in … [Read more...] about Judge Klapper cites critical flaws with Kansas’ death penalty