Barrett Law Firm, P.A.

05/23/2026

Just say NO!!

In 1956, the "Triple Play" scandal exposed how the practice of electing judges enabled backroom deals, eroding public trust. Public outrage translated into action. Kansans began pushing for a structural change to prevent such abuses in the future by proposing a constitutional amendment to remove Supreme Court selection from direct partisan elections and political appointment. This system, which prioritizes legal qualifications, democratic accountability, and independence, has remained in place since 1958.

On August 4, Kansas voters will go to the polls to determine the future of the Kansas Supreme Court. Will we keep our current merit-based process, or will we return to the days of backroom deals and corruption?

Read more about the Triple Play Scandal: https://www.kansasappleseed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/PDF_From-Scandal-to-Gavel.pdf?fbclid=IwY2xjawR9TYxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeOFwqsXXpR8x1-GHf_2VLqsDSUkrIAf52U7jaElWWZ1w1P274YDha9ILuoEk_aem_bflva-zyZ325R_mF4g4ouA

05/17/2026

Independent judiciary!!!

04/27/2026

The Trump administration has taken a step in the right direction on cannabis, says Cato’s Jeffrey A. Singer. But rescheduling doesn’t end prohibition—it merely rearranges it. Real reform means removing it from the Controlled Substances Act altogether and letting states regulate it.

Learn more: https://ow.ly/4B9150YPoHZ

04/23/2026

❓ Do you know who decides the sentence after someone is convicted?

⚖️ How Sentencing Works in Kansas
In Kansas, a judge — not the prosecution — decides the sentence after someone is convicted.

Judges use the Kansas Sentencing Guidelines Grid to determine the appropriate sentence. The grid is based on two main factors:

Severity level of the crime (rows)

The person’s criminal history (columns)

While prosecutors and defense attorneys may recommend a sentence, the final decision rests with the judge, who must follow Kansas law and sentencing guidelines.

📄 View the Sentencing Grid: https://www.sentencing.ks.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/1170/638877494864400000

This post is for educational purposes only and not legal advice. If you have specific questions, you can consult a Kansas attorney.

04/07/2026

We're excited about this cross-branch collaboration to implement recommendations from the Rural Justice Initiative Committee. The stipend and loan repayment programs in Substitute for House Bill 2595 address one of the greatest barriers for students practicing in rural communities today: student loan debt. By working together — and in concert with other efforts underway — we are poised for progress addressing the attorney shortage affecting rural Kansans.

https://www.governor.ks.gov/Home/Components/News/News/990/56

03/13/2026

12-15 hours after last cannabis use

02/06/2026

02/06/2026

Karen has a *few* spots on her therapy caseload to fill! Share, share, share away. 💕 Let’s help Karen touch the lives of others in a positive, uplifting way.

Karen brings 18 years of experience as a Licensed Master Social Worker, with a background in in-home family therapy and school-based social work practice. For 16 years, Karen served as a School Social Worker in Northwest Kansas, with the past 9 years in Colby Public Schools. In this role, she provided counseling, behavior consultation, and a wide range of supports for students, families, and staff.

Karen works with clients of ALL ages, but does have a particular interest in children and the student aged population.
She works with all people on a variety of concerns such as chronic stress, life transitions, anxiety, depression, trauma, parenting challenges, school-related issues, and grief. With deep roots in the community, she is excited to continue serving the people of Colby and the surrounding areas, offering compassionate, evidence-based care to individuals, families, and children.

If you are interested in services with Karen you can reach out to her by phone or email:

785-269-7635 (call or text)
[email protected]

02/03/2026

Today, Kansas Appleseed is releasing its newest report, “An Unfinished Story: Kansas Youth Justice Reform 10 Years After Senate Bill 367”. This report traces the evidence-based history of the reforms and their impact, and the current state of SB367.

SB 367 was a huge step forward in improving the youth justice system in Kansas by shifting towards community-based alternatives. Since then, there have been numerous attempts to challenge the statute, despite the reforms' success.

Join us for an informational webinar about the report on Thursday, February 12, at 12 PM/CST 3. During the webinar, we will walk through this report exploring the history of Kansas's juvenile justice system, the creation and implementation of SB 367, opportunities to further expand the existing system, and the threats to reforms we have seen historically and currently.

Right now, the Kansas legislature is attempting to further roll back SB 367's reforms. HB 2329 seeks to extend detention limits, widen the door to incarcerate more kids who are not high-risk, and revive group homes that previously failed to address needs or reduce recidivism -- and were associated with abuse and human trafficking.

Read the report and register for the webinar here: https://www.kansasappleseed.org/sb-367-report/

02/03/2026

Thank you, Mike Matson, for hosting Justice K.J. Wall on Within Reason to talk about the attorney shortage affecting rural Kansas and efforts to overcome it.

01/31/2026

Appellate judges deemed Kansas Highway Patrol's practice of targeting drivers from specific states to be unconstitutional. READ>>>https://www.wibw.com/2026/01/30/appeals-court-rules-khp-cant-target-drivers-based-state-can-conduct-controversial-two-step-questioning/