In the current Kansas political climate, it’s tough to be the Supreme Court Chief Justice.
How does one stay motivated when the judicial branch seems at odds with the legislative branch over school funding, selection of local chief judges, and the division's budget is at risk if the selection law is struck down? Add to that the judicial branch, comprised of 1,800 people, hasn't seen a raise in seven years.
Supreme Court Justice Lawton Nuss says his strategy is to dig down and keep history in mind: "I look at some difficulties faced by people like Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, difficulties faced by Theodore Roosevelt, our own Kansas president Dwight Eisenhower, tough decisions they've had to make under some very difficult circumstances, and I say if they can make tough choices like that and still stay motivated with all the heavy pressure that weighed on them, then certainly someone like me, who has maybe one percent of their pressures, I, certainly can do the same thing."
The Kansas Supreme Court will be in Garden City holding a special evening session for only the second time in history next week, Tuesday, October 13.
There are three cases on the docket:
Appeal No. 108,963: Betty A. Born, et al v. Sharon L. Born and Todd J. Born, et al. This is a petition for review of a case originating in Sedgwick County, which seeks to resolve ownership interest in a family-owned business after one family member/owner died.
Appeal No. 109,995: State of Kansas v. Dontae M. Patterson. After Wichita police searched his vehicle, Patterson was charged with various drug offenses, criminal possession of a firearm by a felon, and receipt of criminal proceeds. At issue is whether the Court of Appeals erred in holding that the vehicle could be searched; police had a warrant to search the premises. but the vehicle was parked in the driveway.
Appeal No. 110, 415: State of Kansas v. Charles C. Logsdon. Logsdon appeals a Reno County conviction for first-degree murder and other charges, for which he was sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole for 50 years. The issues before the court are whether there was sufficient evidence presented at trial to convict him, and whether the district court committed errors when it denied his motion for mistrial, when it imposed a hard-50 sentence, and when it instructed the jury on the law regarding aiding and abetting.
The public is invited to attend and listen to the oral arguments in the auditorium of the Garden City High School. The session starts at 6:30 p.m.
The court will also greet the public in an informal reception following the session.
There will also be a live stream of the special session, using the Kansas Judicial Branch's website kscourts.org.
