by Heather Cessna, BIDS Executive Director

With the whirlwind of a Legislative session finally over, now is a good time to give everyone an update on the fantastic strides we’ve made during this year’s legislative session in support of Kansas Public Defense.

by Meryl Carver-Allmond, BIDS Training Director

Our first four BIDS Awards honorees were chosen from over 40 nominees. From a chief who regularly cheers her office up by wearing a pirate hat, to an investigator who went the extra mile for a client in crisis, to all manner of public defense staff and attorneys who performed their jobs admirably through a global pandemic — there was a lot to celebrate this year within BIDS.

by Meryl Carver-Allmond, BIDS Training Director

For the first time in recent memory, on May 9th and 10th, BIDS chiefs and deputies all came together in Lawrence, Kansas, for training on and discussions about challenges facing our public defense leaders.

by Corrine Gunning, Assistant Appellate Defender, & Jennifer Roth, Deputy Appellate Defender

Although the Legislature has not officially closed the 2021-22 session, we wanted to provide a brief update on some of the more significant legislative changes that occurred in criminal law this year. Once the session is officially closed, be on the lookout for an email from Jennifer Roth, KACDL Legislative Co-Chair and Deputy Appellate Defender, with a complete chart of what passed and what didn’t this session. Make sure you also save the date for the joint case law and legislative update CLE on July 15, 2022, at noon, to hear Jennifer discuss these changes in more depth.

by Pam Sullivan, Salina Deputy Public Defender

The Salina Regional Public Defender Office is sad to announce that, after 39 years of practicing law, Mark Dinkel, Chief of the Salina Regional Public Defender Office, will be retiring at the end of June.