News & Commentary

Civil rights advocates are urging Kansas lawmakers to pass legislation that would prohibit shackling youth during court hearings unless a judge determines they must be restrained.

TOPEKA — Kansas legal leaders and juvenile justice advocates are backing a bill to end the use of restraints on a juvenile during court hearings, which they referred to as an unnecessary and humiliating practice.

TOPEKA — Advocates of Kansas House legislation imposing a prohibition on no-knock search warrants by law enforcement officers Monday triggered indignation and rebukes from legislators with professional experience as investigators, attorneys and judges in Kansas.

Sharon Brett, legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas, said outdated state laws are common, but anti-LGBTQ laws send a message to people that they aren’t welcomed in the state. “It’s a deliberate decision not to amend the code,” Brett said.

“We ask committee leadership to rethink the course of their actions,” Mark McCormick, ACLU, said. “Slow down the process. Allow for a reasonable amount of time for public comment. Provide all information on maps publicly. We have a long process ahead of us. We have time to do it right.”

A United States District Court has ruled that the ACLU of Kansas and the Kansas Appleseed can move forward with its lawsuit against the City of Wichita regarding police use of a "gang list."

Brandy Carlson has a lot to be nervous about.

TOPEKA — After a 2021 legislative session packed with election proposals, Kansas officials and advocacy groups again are looking at both election integrity and accessibility issues.

TOPEKA — A coalition of Kansas organizations are seeking to end the “pernicious practice” of extracting wealth from children and their families through fines and fees in the legal system.