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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 gathering data on the defendant and the case. Sometimes information comes to light that sheds new light on the crime or on the defendant. If the prosecutor filed capital and gave death notice, as the case […]
[ Read More... ]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 premeditated murder with one or more of these factors: kidnapping or aggravated kidnapping for ransom; contract murder; murder of any person by an inmate in a correctional facility; murder of a victim of rape, criminal sodomy, or aggravated criminal sodomy […]
[ Read More... ]OUR RECENT POSTS
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 … [ Read More... ]

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 … [ Read More... ]
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 … [ Read More... ]
2025 Death Penalty Repeal Legislation Introduced!
HB 2272, by Representatives Schreiber, Ballard, Carmichael, Osman, Sutton and Wasinger, was introduced on February 5th. It has been referred to House Judiciary. SB 245 was introduced through Senate Judiciary Committee. It has been referred to Senate Judiciary Committee. Both bills would end … [ Read More... ]
KCADP Nominee Slate Announced
At the annual meeting on November 16th in Lawrence, there will be election of officers and board members for terms beginning Jan. 1, 2025. Terms are two years in length unless otherwise noted. The nominees are Officers: Vice Chair: Al Terwelp Secretary: Willmar Harder (1 … [ Read More... ]