David Bell, Criminal Defense Attorney

David Bell, Criminal Defense Attorney David Bell is a Top-Rated Criminal Defense Attorney in Kansas City | Voted Best Lawyer in KC 2023

Can song lyrics be used against you in court?In this episode of Lens of a Lawyer, I sit down with Jack Lerner to discuss...
08/28/2026

Can song lyrics be used against you in court?

In this episode of Lens of a Lawyer, I sit down with Jack Lerner to discuss how rap lyrics have been introduced as evidence in criminal cases, how they can influence the way jurors perceive a defendant, and the legal and racial concerns that come with treating creative expression as evidence of intent or character.

It’s an important conversation about where art, culture, bias, and the rules of evidence intersect.

Listen to the full episode:
https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-rujqi-1b466bc

Watch the full conversation on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pri-zzdnZd8

08/27/2026

Can rap lyrics be treated as evidence without also inviting a jury to make assumptions about the person who wrote them?

In tomorrow’s episode of Lens of a Lawyer, I sit down with Jack Lerner to discuss how rap lyrics have been used in criminal prosecutions, the racial stereotypes that can shape how that evidence is received, and the broader concerns this raises about character evidence and fairness in the courtroom.

It’s a fascinating conversation about where culture, bias, and the rules of evidence collide.

A new episode of Lens of a Lawyer drops tomorrow. Listen on all major podcast platforms.

08/26/2026

The 14th Amendment may not come up at the dinner table very often, but it has shaped some of the most important rights in American life.

Originally adopted during Reconstruction, its reach has extended far beyond citizenship, influencing questions of privacy, marriage, individual liberty, and equal protection.

The recent birthright citizenship case brought that tension back into focus: should the 14th Amendment be interpreted primarily through its original purpose, or through the broader protections it has come to provide over time?

08/25/2026

In this episode of Lens of a Lawyer, I sit down with Vincent Morales of Veterans Community Project of Kansas City to talk about what happens when service ends and the challenges of returning to civilian life begin.

We discuss the stigma surrounding homelessness, why some veterans struggle to access the support they need, and the parallels Vincent sees between military life, incarceration, and the difficult process of reintegration.

Vincent’s own experience led him to build a nonprofit focused on helping veterans who might otherwise fall through the cracks.

Listen to the full episode, “Vincent Morales – Fighting For A Home,” at:
https://lensofalawyer.podbean.com/e/vincent-morales-fighting-for-a-home/

What happens when the people we honor for serving our country struggle to find stability once they come home?I recently ...
08/22/2026

What happens when the people we honor for serving our country struggle to find stability once they come home?

I recently sat down with Vincent Morales of Veterans Community Project of Kansas City a veteran who turned his own personal challenges into a mission to help other veterans who have fallen through the cracks.

We talked about why the transition from military to civilian life can be so difficult, the barriers that often keep veterans from getting the help they need, and the troubling parallels between veterans experiencing homelessness and people trying to rebuild their lives after incarceration.

Vincent’s story is ultimately one of service continuing long after the uniform comes off.

🎧 Listen to the full episode at:
https://lensofalawyer.podbean.com/e/vincent-morales-fighting-for-a-home/

08/20/2026

The line between “normal” behavior and behavior we struggle to understand may be thinner than we think.

In this conversation, Judge John Torrence and I talk about what he learned as both a public defender and a judge, and how environment, experience, mental health, drugs, and alcohol can all shape behavior. We also discuss why understanding those influences matters when we think about crime, accountability, and the people moving through the justice system.

Listen to the full episode:
https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-gy5j5-1b2e5fb

Watch the full conversation on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/0TmEEv1YV8g?si=uNppQFy24EkkzPnC

08/14/2026

One thing I took away from my conversation with Judge John Torrence is that sentencing should not erase someone’s humanity.

As a criminal defense attorney, I have represented people in cases where the facts were difficult and the outcome was serious. But even when someone is going to prison, there is still value in treating that person with dignity and reminding them that their life is not over.

At some point, most people come home. The hope is that they return ready to be a parent, a grandparent, a neighbor, and a productive part of their community.

Accountability matters. So does how we treat people while they are being held accountable.

Listen to the full episode:
https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-gy5j5-1b2e5fb

Watch the full conversation on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/0TmEEv1YV8g?si=uNppQFy24EkkzPnC

08/11/2026

Why does the right to a jury trial matter so much?

Judge John Torrence explains how the founders had seen what can happen when too much power is concentrated in one person. When the prosecutor, judge, and fact finder are all the same individual, the risk of bias and bad decision-making grows.

A jury spreads that responsibility across multiple perspectives and when the stakes can change someone’s life, who gets a voice in the room matters.

Listen to Lens of a Lawyer on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms. Search “Lens of a Lawyer” wherever you listen.

What does justice look like from the bench?I recently sat down with Judge John Torrence for a wide-ranging conversation ...
08/07/2026

What does justice look like from the bench?

I recently sat down with Judge John Torrence for a wide-ranging conversation about the justice system, the responsibility that comes with serving on the bench, and how judges approach the difficult decisions that shape people’s lives.

Judge Torrence brings years of courtroom experience to the conversation, offering insight into courtroom procedure, the broader role of judges in our legal system, and what it means to see the law operate in real time.

Watch the full conversation on YouTube or listen on all major podcast platforms.

YouTube 📺 : https://bit.ly/4fUimzT
Podcast 🎧 : https://bit.ly/4wjQ9aD

08/03/2026

Two states can examine the death penalty and reach opposite conclusions because they may not be weighing the same questions.

Professor Sheldon Evans and I discussed how our approaches to punishment are shaped by deeper beliefs about justice, deterrence, public safety, and the role of government.

Listen to our full conversation on Lens of a Lawyer, available on all major podcast platforms.

🎧 : https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-d57ea-1b0e771

Address

WYRSCH HOBBS MIRAKIAN, One Kansas City Place 1200 Main Street Suite 2110
Kansas City, MO
64105

Telephone

+18164378199

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