What’s on the Kansas Supreme Court’s October docket?

KANSAS (KSNT) – The Kansas Supreme Court will be hearing 15 different cases in October, ranging from appeals to case summaries.

Although the Chief Justice Luckert will be missing October’s session due to a recent stroke and car accident, the court will still be in session with six justices from Oct. 27 to Oct. 30. The six justices are:

• Acting Chief Justice Eric Rosen.
  • Rosen was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2005 by Democratic Governor Kathleen Sebelius, and his current term lasts until 2027.
• Justice Dan Biles.
  • Biles was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2009 by Sebelius, and his current term lasts until 2029.
• Justice Caleb Stegall.
  • Stegall was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2014 by Republican Governor Sam Brownback, and his current term lasts until 2029.
• Justice K.J. Wall.
  • Wall was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2020 by Kelly, and his current term lasts until 2029.
• Justice Melissa Taylor Standridge.
  • Standridge was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2020 by Kelly, and her current term lasts until 2029.
• Justice Larkin Walsh.
  • Walsh was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2025 by Kelly, and her current term lasts until 2026. This will be Walsh’s first docket as Supreme Court Justice since her appointment in August.

Kansas Supreme Court October cases

The following are appeals to standing criminal convictions:

State of Kansas, Appellee, v. Daisha Corrina Butler, Appellant:

Butler was sentenced to life in prison on charges of first degree murder committed during an inherently dangerous felony and aggravated endangerment of a child in 2021.

State of Kansas, Appellee, v. Verlee McCullough III, Appellant:

McCullough III was found guilty of first-degree murder for the 2021 killing of a woman.

In the Matter of Allison G. Kort, Respondent: Original Action in Discipline

State of Kansas, Appellee, v. Justin Eugene Thurber, Appellant:

Thurber was sentenced to death for the kidnapping, rape and killing of a college student in 2007.

State of Kansas, Appellee, v. Devon Wayne Dirksen, Appellant:

The defendant was charged in 2022 for attempted aggravated robbery, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, attempted aggravated residential burglary, interference with law enforcement, unlawful discharge of a firearm in city limits and criminal damage to property.

State of Kansas, Appellee, v. Efrain D. Arroyo, Appellant:

Arroyo was sentenced to life in prison for first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping and criminal use of a firearm by a convicted felon in 2019.

State of Kansas, Appellee, v. Shannon Berry Cavitt, Jr., Appellant:

Cavitt was sentenced to life in prison for first degree murder, four counts of kidnapping, aggravated burglary and aggravated robbery from 2022.

State of Kansas, Appellee, v. John C.T. Boese, Appellant:

The defendant was charged with violation of a protection from abuse order issued against him in 2021.

State of Kansas, Appellant, v. Hunter C. Clift, Appellee:

Per the Kansas Appellate Courts Public Access Portal, the defendant was charged with possession of a firearm under the influence after a traffic stop in 2024.

State of Kansas, Appellee, v. Angelene L. Calvert, Appellant:

The defendant was charged with one count of felony theft in 2021, but also had two prior felony theft convictions in 2018 and 2020.

State of Kansas, Appellee, v. Kyle Vincent Hardwick, Appellant:

Per the Kansas Appellate Courts Public Access Portal, the defendant was convicted of two counts of intentional and premeditated murder, felony theft and solicitation to commit perjury in 2021.

State of Kansas, Appellee, v. Thomas R. Gatewood, Appellant:

Gatewood pled no contest to nine felony offenses, including first-degree murder, two counts of kidnapping, aggravated battery and aggravated endangering of child.

The following are items on the Summary Calendar:

State of Kansas v. Christopher J. Allison:

The defendant was sentenced to a “hard 40” for his conviction of first degree murder and other offenses in 1993, per the Kansas Appellate Courts Public Access Portal.

State of Kansas v. Justin Earl Macormac:

The defendant was sentenced to 853 months to life in prison after he pled guilty to an amended count of first degree murder, an amended count of voluntary manslaughter, amended count of attempted second degree murder and two counts of criminal discharge of a firearm at an occupied dwelling, per the Kansas Appellate Courts Public Access Portal.

State of Kansas v. Dale M.L. Denney:

The defendant was convicted of aggravated criminal sodomy, aggravated battery, aggravated sexual battery and aggravated weapons violation and sentenced to 36 years to life and a consecutive 228 months, per the Kansas Appellate Courts Public Access Portal.

You can catch all oral arguments on the Kansas Supreme Court livestream available on YouTube. The court will be convening at the Kansas Judicial Branch in Topeka, located at 301 SW 10th Avenue.

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