by Bryan Cox, Johnson County Public Defender

On October 15, 2021, the Kansas Supreme Court ruled that restitution orders in criminal cases could not constitutionally be converted into civil judgments. The court did so in three separate cases, but the bulk of the court’s rationale was laid out in State v. Arnett, 496 P.3d 928 (2021), which was argued by Samuel Schirer, Appellate Defender. This article will provide a brief description of that case and holding, critique the court’s resolution of the issue, and — most importantly — offer some thoughts on how the holding is likely to arise in public defense.

by Caroline Zuschek, Capital Appellate Defender

Michelle Ewert took a circuitous route to serving on the Kansas State Board of Indigents’ Defense Services. Raised with a strong service ethic, Michelle spent part of her childhood in East Africa and traveled in Latin America, where she encountered people who survived on few resources and had little economic or political power.

by Meryl Carver-Allmond, BIDS Training Director

Particularly as a newer attorney, there is a lot of mystery about what it takes to teach a CLE, but it’s not as hard as it seems. It’s also a great way to make connections with other attorneys, give service to our greater legal profession, and build up your resume. You – yes you! – are absolutely capable of teaching a CLE. Here are the basic steps.

by Emily Barclay, Johnson County Public Defender & Jessica Glendening, Shawnee County Public Defender

In mid-June 2021, BIDS employees were emailed a survey to gauge well-being within the agency, and to see if and how employee well-being had changed since a similar survey was conducted in 2020. The results from these surveys are presented to the BIDS Board and help inform decisions made by the agency, including budgetary requests. We appreciate all the employees who took the time to respond to the survey and share honest feedback about their well-being.

by Christina Kerls, Topeka Conflicts Public Defender

We walked into the courtroom, prepared to defend our client, a young, black male, against attempted first-degree murder charges. We saw our almost entirely white jury panel. There were only three people of color – two African American women, and one Hispanic man.