Phill Kline got what he deserves, finally. I just don’t understand why the Kansas Supreme Court didn’t make him return the documents he obtained (12/6, A-1, "Kline’s behavior called ‘inexcusable,’ but he gets to keep abortion records”).
He is, without a doubt, the worst attorney general we have ever had.
Sooner or later, I’m sure he will be disbarred or will find another line of work. He is a disgrace to his profession.
Albert C. Aamold
Prairie Village
Is it just me, or does anyone else think that the Jackson Country prosecutor’s office dropped the ball in regard to the sentencing of Robert Osborn’s killer? (11/18, Local, “Sentence in bicyclist’s death displeases family of victim; Following the plea agreement, judge orders 15-year prison term for co-defendant in slaying”).
I guess all you have to do to get off easy is make sure you have an accomplice, and then simply point the finger in each other’s direction.
The logic for not pursuing a sentence of life without parole is beyond me. Whoever set up this plea agreement should be ashamed. This is not justice; it is a joke.
Darren Bradley
Kansas City
Missouri Supreme Court Judge William Ray Price (10/29, Local, “Jackson County Drug Court praised”) says that about half of the people who start in drug-court programs in Missouri make it through.
Basic statistical research cannot ignore a 50 percent dropout rate. Substance abuse is biological and psychosocial and requires clinical evaluation, assessment and treatment. Monitoring abstinence is not treatment.
I applaud the newly appointed members to COMBAT (10/29, Local, “Members chosen for COMBAT panel”) and trust they are not confused about who is in charge of taxpayers’ $18 million.
J.B. Strong
Substance therapist, Addiction Treatment Services
Overland Park
Although The Star’s article about short prison terms (10/12, Local, “Leniency annoys prosecutors; The suggestions by a commission are faulted as light, but judges aren’t bound to them”) revealed some interesting facts, I believe it missed the bigger issue involving sentencing.
Regardless of how much sentence is imposed, the majority of those sentenced face only a fraction of the sentence once they are received by the Department of Corrections.
With limited resources and space available at the Department of Corrections, inmates are often released early. The judge and prosecutor can do little to stop it.
I think this is why the judges impose a harsher sentence in some cases, because in reality a 40-year sentence is often only 20 years.
Kevin LaBranche
Kansas City
In dealing with financial fraud, the courts need more tools in their tool box.
First, create a national registry with offenders’ names and locations, similar to registries for sexual predators.
Second, require lifetime community service to teach them humility and respect for others and themselves.
Third, bar them from any connection with the financial world.
Hopefully, while in custody they’ll learn how to earn the salt that goes into their daily bread honestly, and that they must earn wealth the age-old way: by hard, honest work.
Bill Mace
Overland Park
I was disappointed to read of Kris Kobach’s litigation in the recent California court case (9/17, Local, “Kansan examines court case; The California decision could affect other states with similar tuition laws for illegal immigrants”) as well as his plans to pursue a similar lawsuit in Kansas concerning the effort to deny in-state tuition to undocumented immigrants. He may have won the court case but he lost the battle for basic human decency. He has struck a blow against one of the hallmarks of any great country: Care and concern for the poor and for the alien.
Education is the silver bullet. It is foundational to our hope to be a nation which embodies mercy and justice. It is also the best antidote to the racial/immigration strife that we experience here in Kansas. We should do everything we can do to help educate immigrants. We should be begging them to attend colleges in our state, not filing lawsuits to make it more difficult. His efforts constitute an alarming callousness toward the poor. I hope his attempt to follow a similar course in Kansas will be unsuccessful.
Tim Suttle
Olathe
The Star’s coverage of Dennis Skillicorn’s case has not explored the major concerns raised by the groups submitting clemency petitions. Skillicorn takes full responsibility for the crimes that led to the murder of Richard Drummond and has continually expressed remorse for his actions. While Skillicorn is certainly guilty of a crime, it is not first-degree murder. Skillicorn was not the shooter and was not present when Drummond was shot.
Skillicorn has also been a leader in restorative justice efforts. He has worked with the Potosi Safe Coalition to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House, victims’ groups and other charities. He is the editor of Compassion magazine, which raised $34,000 in scholarships for murder victims’ families.
Skillicorn co-founded the award-winning 4-H Life, which teaches inmates to become better parents. He has worked to create harmony among various religious groups in the prison community. The list goes on.
I hope next week The Star will provide more complete coverage of the facts of the case and a real overview of the work Skillicorn has done while imprisoned.
Susie Roling
Kansas City
Editor’s note: The Missouri Supreme Court postponed Skillicorn’s execution, which was scheduled for Wednesday, to give his lawyers more time to gather information for a clemency petition.
“Jessica’s Story” of sexual abuse and neglect, as told by Eric Adler in The Star’s recent four-part series (7/13-16, A-1) and Laura Curry Sloan’s “As I See It” column (7/26, Opinion) regarding the local Child Protection Center’s important work with young victims of sexual abuse reminds us just how critical prevention of abuse is.
Preventing abuse can start with each of us understanding these three basic facts:
Child abuse can happen anywhere and in any segment of society.
Signs of abuse include frequent or unexplained bruises or injuries, abrupt, dramatic changes in personality and unusual uneasiness of physical contact.
If you suspect abuse or neglect of a child, contact the child abuse hotline (Kansas: 1-800-922-5330 or Missouri: 1-800-392-3738).
The Children’s Place is a prevention and treatment center in Brookside that provides valuable resources to young children and families who have encountered abuse, neglect or trauma in their lives. We encourage everyone to know the facts about child abuse, learn to recognize the signs of abuse, and report suspected abuse to the statewide hotline.
Volunteer opportunities are available in Kansas City for anyone interested in child abuse prevention. Please contact The Children’s Place for more information: 816-363-1898.
Susan M. Ball
Chair, board of directors, The Children’s Place
Kansas City
Ross Balano (7/26, Opinion, “U.S. wars with Barbary pirates offer lesson”) writes of the Barbary pirates and draws parallels to the current “War on Terror” and to Guantanamo Bay prisoners. There are important differences.
First, the Barbary Pirates were pirates, on pirate ships, attacking U.S. ships. At Guantanamo, we don’t know what many of these prisoners may or may have not done.
Second, the pirates were attacked in a military manner. They were not captured and tortured or interrogated for years.
Thirdly, Thomas Jefferson and Congress’ debates were held in a legal, constitutional manner. No violations of existing treaties, no signing statements, no deals with warlords.
I commend Mr. Balano for recognizing the similarities between the current situation and the pirate situation. But we have been dealing with similar problems for 200 years, and our lesson is to be very wary and concerned when told that this is a new world, with new problems, and that the old laws, principles and paradigms don’t apply. They do. They always have.
Ralph Feik
Raytown
Once again we are treated to the tortured logic of one Ross Balano in the Midwest Voices column. Somehow he makes a connection between the Barbary Coast pirates, al-Qaida, and the prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay.
It’s not until the end of the article that we finally get to the real issue at hand. Once again, it’s the liberals on the Supreme Court who voted in favor of habeas corpus, not the pirates, who are the real cause of Balano’s wrath.
Well, let’s see about those liberal justices. We know four of them are as far to the right as you can get and still remain on planet Earth. So only one of the remaining justices would have to vote against habeas corpus to make Balano happy.
It seems that Justice Souter was appointed by George H.W. Bush. I know he’s not a liberal. Then there’s Justice Kennedy, who was appointed by Ronald Reagan. Heavens, I really don’t think you could describe Reagan as a liberal.
What on Earth is wrong with this picture? Are you sure it was the liberals who caused your angst, Mr. Balano?
Jim Lullie
Holt, Mo.
On March 22, 1989, Roderick Nunley and Michael Taylor kidnapped 15-year-old Ann Harrison and brutally raped and murdered her.
On June 2, 2007, Edwin R. Hall kidnapped 18-year-old Kelsey Smith and brutally raped and murdered her.
All three kidnappers, rapists, and murderers are alive and well in prison today. There is no doubt these three men committed the crimes. Why are they still alive? Where is “justice” for the families, friends and the community at large?
The death penalty has truly been earned by all three men. Why are these men still alive and Ann and Kelsey dead?
Today, there truly is no “justice” in Missouri and Kansas.
Frank J. Smist Jr.
Prairie Village
All the scooter newbies with their beanie helmets, tiny motors and smugly green attitudes should carefully review The Star article recounting how William K. Johnson killed Larry Gaunt and his granddaughter Sierra (7/17, Local, “Driver acquitted in deaths of two”).
Mr. Johnson saw them riding their bicycles along the shoulder. He was in the right lane going at least the speed limit. Although the street was clear, he saw no reason to move to the left lane or even slow down until just before impact. Something happened, and stone-sober Mr. Johnson mowed them down. He defended his actions as his driving style.
You can’t pass it off as “it was the freeway” or “it was rush hour” or “road rage” or “another moron on his cell phone.” This was a clear day on a suburban street and another thoughtless, completely preventable tragedy occurred. We can’t seem to legislate common sense or compassion or, basically, any decency at all to those steering their two-ton projectiles down our streets.
Mr. Johnson lives another day to inflict his driving style on us all because he didn’t do anything against the law.
Be aware, be very very aware, because of all the labels we could attach to Mr. Johnson, “rare” isn’t one of them.
Bob Allen
Kansas City
Mike Hendricks is one of the biggest bleeding hearts I have ever had the displeasure of reading. Do you think his stone heart could maybe bleed for William Johnson? Apparently not. He would place more laws on our already overworked system to make sure more people suffer if they are involved in an accident (7/18, Local, “Verdict is cyclist call to action”).
I am sorry about the tragedy of the two bicyclists killed on Raytown Road. My heart goes out to the families of those victims, but my heart also goes out to Mr. Johnson, who will live with that memory for the rest of his life. I can’t even imagine how more punishment would make him a better driver. Please, Mr. Hendricks, stay out of lawmaking.
And, Brad Gaunt, would it really be any consolation if you could put Mr. Johnson behind bars, taking him away from his family and job? Would that really help your family?
Think long and hard before trying to make the laws tougher for those who are basically upstanding citizens. Let’s let the law enforcers concentrate on the lowlifes who purposely go after our children: drug dealers and pornographers.
Ruth Ann Jordan
Lee’s Summit
Would Gov. Blunt have vetoed the $500,000 contribution to the Truman Courthouse (7/2, Local, “Blunt cuts $500,000 aid for Truman Courthouse”) if it were the Eisenhower Courthouse, the Reagan Courthouse or the Bush Courthouse?
Mary Anne Baier
Kansas City
I am outraged! (6/30, Local, “Judge’s sentencing practices called into question; For a second time, probation is given in child sex crimes”). A 32-year-old man who rapes a 5-year-old so violently that “multiple doctors and surgery were required to reconstruct and repair the physical damage” doesn’t deserve to ever “see light at the end of the tunnel,” as Dowd said.
Any judge who goes easy on him needs to be looked at for clues as to why he not only feels this way but, even if he’s a saint and not a closet child-hater, why he would let such sympathy take the place of justice.
Shawnee County District Court Judge Matthew Dowd also gave probation to the 75-year-old guy who raped a 6-year-old and 7-year-old, because of the man’s age and lack of previous criminal record.
Anyone who rapes or condones it by giving light sentences for the rapes of children should be locked in a dark, dark place for the rest of their lives. Even if I believed in capital punishment, for people like these it would be a release they don’t deserve.
Judge Dowd was on the bench 31 years. I have to ask, given his record, why?
Maggie Wagner
Kansas City
I had jury duty at the Independence Courthouse. The people were very nice. The jury room was small and very crowded. I had to sit on a metal folding chair. The ladies had to stand in line for the bathroom. We were paid $6 a day, plus 7 cents a mile.
They came up with the money to remodel the offices at the Jackson County Courthouse and have an artist paint pictures on the ceiling. The pay that jurors receive is appalling! Gas is close to $4 a gallon. The pay must be 40 years out of date.
We do need to do our civic duty, but we could be treated better.
David L. Netz Sr.
Independence
I understand Phill Kline was close to being sanctioned by the judge in the Kelsey Smith trial for not turning over evidence to the defense (6/18, Local, “Defense pursues evidence in Kelsey Smith murder; No sanction imposed for delay, but Phill Kline’s pace frustrates judge, Edwin Hall’s attorneys”).
If Kline causes this indictment to be thrown out on a technicality such as this, he needs to be indicted himself. Kelsey and her parents deserve justice, and if Hall murdered Kelsey he should pay the most severe punishment there is and not get off on a technicality.
I am outraged by Kline’s behavior and also by his intent to run for another term after he told the Republican Party he would not seek another term.
Paul Morrison was ostracized for having an affair (a personal issue) but Kline seems to think he is above the law (his abortion crusade, the firing of some very good and experienced employees in the district attorney’s office).
Bring back Paul Morrison. He was a great prosecutor with a winning track record.
Donna Langford
Edgerton, Kan.
The right to a fair trial is one of the most basic and essential rights to be extended to all human beings — citizen or not. If even one person is deprived of this right, how can anyone be assured that his or her individual rights will be protected?
The circumventing of this rule of law would open the door to any one of us being arrested and jailed indefinitely without ever being formally charged. These types of political prisoners exist today in China, and many are not Chinese citizens. Does this mean China is justified?
Dennis Batliner (6/22, Letters) contends that the Supreme Court justices who upheld this rule of law put in place by our forefathers lack “a warrior heart.” I contend that their decision is a strong and principled one that protects our future.
I resent the implication that those who do not support the president’s policies wholesale are weak and unpatriotic.
Mark Armstrong
Shawnee
If a woman who was sexually assaulted is not allowed to describe what happened to her as “rape,” why is someone like Ramone Ward (Voices, 6/16) allowed to call his child support obligation “rape?”
Also, I wonder how Mr. Ward’s children would feel if they knew he considered his financial obligation to them “rape.”
Next time, I hope he’ll wear a condom.
Elaine Hines
Kansas City, Kan.
So our court is prohibiting the word “rape” during prosecution (6/8, A-1, “A crime becomes nameless at trial; Those who defend the accused say only a jury should determine whether the act was truly rape”). It is, in the court’s mind, prejudicial. If so, it stands to reason that there are many such words that are likewise. Never use the word “murder” during proceedings. Or “burglar.” Or “robber.” And we must remember to omit “embezzler.” Might we politely refrain from words like “drug dealer” and “pimp.”
While explaining the actions of the accused, don’t make it personal but just tell the actual events. For instance, when describing injuries, one might say, “I felt a foreign object crashing into my chest. Later the doctor told me it was a bullet, but only after surgery and the anesthesia had worn off.”
We must be courteous, after all, and treat the accused with civility. Isn’t that what criminals deserve? At least it appears that way in our idiotic justice system.
Frank Statesel
Overland Park
Here’s what I believe is going to happen with the testimony terminology in rape cases. Prosecutors will instruct their witnesses to say, “I woke up (or whatever circumstances preceded the assault) and his (body part) was in my (orifice) without my permission.”
If the judges insist on graphic descriptions, give ’em graphic.
Cynthia Heller
Kansas City
Monday, I went to Municipal Court to plead not guilty on a parking ticket. I was parked at 1:30 a.m. on a Sunday in front of the Plaza tennis courts within 40 feet of a sign saying, “No Parking 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday”
Note, I was parked there at 1:30 a.m. on a weekend — thus, no violation.
When my case was called, the city attorney asked for a continuance because the officer wasn’t present. I protested, trying to tell the judge I had photos proving that the officer had made a mistake, and that if he would just take 20 seconds to look at them he could see there was no justification for the ticket to begin with. The judge refused to look at them and granted the continuance.
Now, I have to go to all the time, expense and trouble again in July. All of this for a non-moving, parking violation.
But hey, it’s OK for the court, because they all get paid no matter how many times they make citizens appear.
Charles Hutto
Kansas City
I’d like to take a moment to acknowledge the fine work of one downtown parking control officer. I recently received a $38.50 ticket for having no license plate. However, had he or she walked around the back of my new vehicle, he or she may have noticed the clearly visible temporary tag on the back window stating the date of purchase as well as a 15-day time allowance for registration.
Thanks to the excellent attention to detail, I now get to spend a half day in the courthouse waiting in line to straighten this mess out.
Congratulations! You’ve definitely earned your parking control officer merit badge.
G.L. Barton
Kansas City
O.J. Simpson’s armed robbery trial is coming soon. Only the rich and famous can get away with such a waste of taxpayers’ money and time before, during and after trials.
I bet if he were a regular “Joe Blow” the courts would not allow two weeks of questions and a jury pool of 400-plus. Could the courthouses really be that desperate for revenue and free publicity? The networks desperate for news? Or has this movie star-type trial process just become the exception to the rule?
What really sickens me is that this man never paid his dues to these families from his last trial but continues to live the life of Riley. Where’s the justice?
Susan Tutorino Dickey
Kansas City
It seems apparent that Phill Kline’s goal is to bankrupt or deal a serious financial and image blow to Planned Parenthood. But what is it costing us, the taxpayers of Johnson County, to finance his ongoing vendetta?
It seems we now have a partial answer: Up to $200,000 in one lawsuit alone (filed against Kline by Planned Parenthood). A Star article (5/17, Local) states that Kline is asking the attorney general’s office to pay his legal bills, which amount to $140,000 thus far but Kline says, “I anticipate it’ll hit $200,000.”
Kline at least speaks the truth in asking “When do you see a criminal defendant suing a prosecutor?” Rarely, Mr. Kline, rarely.
Ann Arnott
Lenexa
It’s time to stop Phill Kline’s vindictive agenda. Make him pay for his own ill-advised witch hunt.
A local TV station’s investigative report demonstrated Phill Kline doesn’t really live in Johnson County. Might his collecting a paycheck from Johnson County be considered perpetrating fraud upon the public’s trust?
Now Kline is whining about a potential $200,000 legal bill — his consequence for violating rules, not safeguarding evidence and pursuing a personal, religion-motivated crusade.
Johnson County Republicans put this man with dubious legal credentials in office. Let them pay the bill for Kline’s unprofessional behavior.
Now an out-of-state Web site advances Kline’s private speaking circuit (5/17, A-1, “Solicitations for Kline raise conflict question”). What’s next? Am I to understand Johnson County’s form of government is a theocracy?
Phill, please do Johnson County taxpayers a favor and resign. Then, you are free to pursue your personal agenda at your own expense, not the public’s.
David Czernik
Lenexa
Last month I was I was summoned for jury duty in Johnson County. I didn’t go with a lot of excitement. It was more like an irritant in the schedule, but a necessary one.
One judge talked to my group of jurors about the plea-bargain process and why he would need us if the defendant changed her mind. While waiting for two courtrooms to select juries (in case either room needed more for the jury pool), another judge gave us a tour of the courthouse just to help the time pass.
I didn’t end up having to serve that day. But I left amazed at the time spent by judges to inform us, the public, about the process.
I’m still trying to figure out what God wants me to do with this experience. It starts with having compassion for the Johnson County court system and a positive attitude when the summons to jury duty arrives, as well as sharing my good experience with others.
It is obvious that the courthouse staff has compassion and cares about what it is doing in a positive way to serve the people of Johnson County.
Shelley Etzenhouser
Overland Park
The current decision of the Louisiana legislature to allow for the execution of those convicted of child rape (5/7, Opinion, “Pro-con: Should the death penalty be expanded to include persons who rape children?”) could set a precedent that could be problematic as states such as Missouri consider similar measures.
What would be the treatment afforded to those convicted of incest? Is the crime any less damaging if the perpetrator is one’s own parent? If not, could this then lead to children offering testimony against their own parents, with the possible result being the state-sanctioned execution of their parents?
I have no answers, only questions — but questions well worth consideration.
Jeremy Deeken
Kansas City
I consider it highly unethical of The Star to publish an e-mail received in error. In this case no damage was done, as it showed that Smithfield was taking a well-reasoned and thought-out approach to this litigation (4/25, Business, “Smithfield to fight hog farm lawsuits”). But it did show that The Star was willing to take advantage of someone’s inadvertent error.
It is clear that you don’t subscribe to the old adage that a gentleman does not read someone else’s mail
Dan Maclean
Kansas City
Editor’s note: The Star published a box with the story explaining why editors decided to write about the e-mail message, which Smithfield Foods Inc. requested that the paper ignore and destroy.
Johnson County is in the process of trying a Chinese national accused of enticing and coercing women to travel to her business to perform sexual services for men for money. (4/25, Local, “Guilty plea in sex-trafficking case”).
She has admitted to the charges. She could face up to 20 years in prison. But by agreeing to cooperate with prosecutors, the estimate is she will face a whole eight months.
What a nice legal system we have. Don’t get stopped for a traffic ticket.
Frank Thompson
De Soto
Regarding “Ex-diplomats call for closing Gitmo” (3/28, A-14): Henry Kissinger, James Baker, Warren Christopher, Madeleine Albright and Colin Powell act like they don’t realize we are still at war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Releasing prisoners to the battlefield would endanger troops. My two Marine sons could be at risk from this policy.
They say the next president should “move quickly to close the military prison at Guantanamo Bay Cuba.” How could a president do this to our troops? Baker said Guantanamo “gives us a very, very bad name.” America’s attackers on 9/11 should have a bad name. America should “talk to its enemies.” Who will be the first to talk to bin Laden?
The story states Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John McCain have called for Guantanamo to be closed. It did not point out why they would release fighters from prison to return to the fight.
Marijane Green
Kansas City, Kan.
I’d like to thank Missouri Rep. Ed Emery of Lamar for clearly expressing his contempt for the rule of law to the people of Missouri (3/29, Local, “House bill to rescue Aquila?”).
By suggesting it is silly to tear down a power plant to teach someone a lesson, he has undermined the basis of our society — the law. If we apply his “logic” to other instances of lawbreaking activity, it would make no sense to incarcerate an arsonist to teach someone a lesson, as someone would benefit from the now-vacant site.
If I had constructed a building or business in an illegal location, I’m quite certain I’d have to demolish it. Why should we make an exception for the lawbreakers at Aquila?
Daniel Donath
Kansas City
The pinkie promise — now there is a contract that is never broken. If you are a child or a senior citizen, you know that if you say, “I pinkie promise” and wrap your pinkie around the recipient’s, then you know that it is a real promise.
We should have people do pinkie promises before testifying in court, rather than swearing in with their hand on the Bible. This probably would have made Bill Clinton tell the truth the first time, and the recent scandal of Mayor Kilpatrick in Detroit would have been avoided as well.
Instead of the focus on baseball and the steroid problem, focus should be on enacting a pinkie promise from everyone who takes the stand in court.
Rex Harigon
Kansas City, Kan.
I am once again dismayed at the conduct of Johnson County Prosecutor Phill Kline and his misuse of public funds to harass a legal operation in our community.
It appalled me when the Johnson County Republican Committee “elected” him when he had not won the Johnson County vote in the previous election, but I thought he might behave himself and we could wait it out until the term ended. He did assure us that he would not be running again. But he has used that office for his own private crusade in going after anyone or any organization he dislikes or disagrees with.
Isn’t this malicious prosecution/persecution? Since when are people in danger of being prosecuted for conducting legal business?
This is so wrong. I’m glad that grand jury system saw through it (3/11, A-1, “Charges and countercharges over grand jury; Those with a stake in the Planned Parenthood proceedings have different takes on what occurred”).
I hope the county and state will take their opinions and suggestions regarding small numbers of people petitioning for a grand jury to heart and change it. This has been abused by Kline and could be by others.
Linda Katz
Overland Park
Raise your hand if you are sick of the sniping between Phill Kline and Paul Morrison. They’re giving good entertainment value, but it’s not what they were hired for.
Why is the justice department allied to political parties anyway? I hope both of these cowboys will head into the sunset.
M. Theis
Mission Hills
For perhaps the first time in my life, I am jealous of my neighbors living on the Kansas side. Were I a citizen of Kansas, I could get 4,000 or so signatures and empanel my own grand jury to investigate Phill Kline’s criminal waste of assets of the taxpayers of Kansas in his personal vendetta against Planned Parenthood and Paul Morrision.
I could subpoena all of Mr. Kline’s financial records, his tax returns, his credit card statements, his e-mails, his personal correspondence, the hard drives on his office and home computers, as well as those of petition drive organizers Tim Golba, Judy Smith, and Kline’s associate attorneys.
I could probe into every nook and cranny of their miserable existences and then, were I unable to find a smoking gun to incriminate them, I could whine and complain the grand jury had failed in its obligations to support my crusade against Kline & Co.
Citizens of Kansas, I implore you to avail yourselves of this unprecedented opportunity to put Kline where he belongs: on the witness stand under oath.
Robert Lewis
Independence
Hooray for the justice system!
The trial and subsequent guilty verdict for John Horton is over for now (3/6, Local, “Guilty, again, in ’74 case; Johnson County jury finds the ex-custodian guilty of killing 13-year-old Lizabeth Wilson”). Let’s all pray this will be the last time the Wilson family has to go through the torture of reliving the death of their daughter, Lizabeth Wilson.
I just wanted to let the Wilson family know that my family also celebrated with them Wednesday when the verdict was announced.
My brother, Robert Williams, was one of the detectives on the Prairie Village police department when Lizabeth was murdered. He knew Horton was the killer and it ate at him for years until he died in 2000.
Now he can rest in peace knowing this monster got what he deserved -- again!
Jean Harris
Kansas City
Once again Phill Kline’s harassment of Planned Parenthood patients sputters to an ignominious end in the Kansas courts (3/4, A-1, “Grand jury will not indict; Group’s president is pleased. Opponents disappointed but not surprised by outcome”). A Kline groupie in Leawood says the obvious solution is to convene yet another grand jury. Kline and his tiny band of crusaders are the Clay Chastains of Johnson County: No matter how often they get whupped, they always come back for more.
John Bulkley
Overland Park
I am appalled at the article about Lawrence E. Neal being charged with the rape of a woman here in Kansas City (1/17, Local, “Ex-convict charged with rape”).
Would someone please explain to me how a convicted murderer of another woman in 1989 served only 12 years of his sentence in prison? He then gets out in 2001, violates parole, and is then released again in 2004. In 2006 he pleads no contest to aggravated assault and serves one year probation for that. Now they are looking into other sexual assaults committed in 2005 and 2006 to see if they can connect him to these.
There is something terribly wrong with this picture. How many times is this going to happen to innocent women in our country because men are let out of prison just to commit another crime?
Women are having our rights to shop, bike, jog or do our own thing taken away from us. It makes me sick, and we women need to unite and start lobbying and doing whatever it takes to make our lives, our friends, female relatives and co-workers safe.
Barbara Butterfield
Grandview
Why the comment about Karen Kornacki in Jason Whitlock’s Jan. 18 Sports Daily column “King Carl’s future looks iffy” (“…holding a conversation with Lamar Hunt’s successor was far more enlightening than shouting relevant questions between radio reporter Rhonda Moss’ grandstanding barbs/queries and TV football expert Karen Kornacki’s syrupy attempts at playing news-conference kissyface.”)?
Kornacki is a good reporter and an even better person. I would hope that your columnists would have a little more class.
Scott Moore
Bonner Springs
Saundra McFadden-Weaver’s punishment seems to fit the crimes of failing to read all the closing documents and trusting an unreliable friend to make mortgage payments.
Her sentence stands as a sensible act of justice by Judge Fernando Gaitan, not undue leniency as Mary Donaldson and Frank Thompson have suggested (1/9, Letters).
For the last 20 years, the Federal Sentencing Guidelines reduced judges to glorified clerks, saddling them with a point system for calculating and imposing draconian mandatory sentences largely without regard to key distinctions or mitigating factors in individual cases.
That put the power to control punishments in the hands of prosecutors and enabled them to engage in a sort of legal waterboarding to compel confessions. They could then win cases by ratcheting up charges until the corresponding guideline punishments made the risk of losing at trial unthinkable even for innocent or wrongly accused citizens.
A recent Supreme Court ruling opened the door for federal judges to get back in the justice business somewhat less constrained by the guidelines. Judge Gaitan bravely and wisely walked through that door.
If I ever get in trouble, I hope Donaldson and Thompson aren’t on my jury.
John Kerr
Lee’s Summit
I would suggest that Daniel Porter be housed in a cell with life-size photos of his children permanently attached to the walls (1/3, A-1, “?‘I did the worst crime anyone can do’?”). He would see their faces first thing in the morning and last thing at night for the rest of his life.
Penny Armstrong
Pittsburg, Kan.
Kudos to the two federal judges who ruled recently against the Bush administration’s policy of secrecy in government.
First, U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth ruled that White House visitor logs are public record and ordered the Bush administration to stop withholding them from public scrutiny. The Bush administration is the first White House to not release visitor logs to outside groups and news organizations.
Second, another judge decided that the Bush White House must answer questions about the destruction of CIA interrogation videos of two al-Qaida suspects.
Bush has run the most secretive government in recent history. Hopefully, these judges’ rulings will help open the door to the public’s right to know what our government is doing.
Jane Toliver
Leawood
I was appalled at the comments made by Planned Parenthood officials in The Star concerning the seating of a citizen-activated grand jury to investigate allegations that Planned Parenthood has performed illegal late-term abortions and has provided false statements to state officials (12/10, Local, “Probe fuels abortion debate”).
For Planned Parenthood to say that Concerned Women for America and other groups calling for an investigation is a “transparent abuse” is a slap in the face to the average citizens who signed the petition out of frustration concerning the state’s lack of enforcement of Kansas law.
Ordinary citizens have to follow the law, and they have every right to expect that entities like Planned Parenthood are following laws enacted to ensure women’s safety and protection.
The officials tasked with the job of making sure that women who receive abortions are safe have either refused or have been unable to oversee and enforce the law. Therefore, the only recourse citizens have is to turn to the grand jury process.
Attorney General Paul Morrison has obstructed efforts to make sure the laws are followed by Planned Parenthood and the abortion industry. It looks as if, finally, the people will have their say.
Judy Smith
state director, Concerned Women for America of Kansas
Leawood
