Monnat & Spurrier, Chartered

04/15/2026

The Kansas HALO Act is now law. But does that make it less vague? Less vulnerable to constitutional challenges? No.

In this KWCH 12 News12 News interview, criminal defense attorney Dan Monnat explains why vagueness in a criminal statute remains dangerous:

“Vague statutes and laws can be arbitrarily enforced, selectively enforced, discriminatorily enforced—all in violation of the First Amendment.”

For a deeper look at why Monnat says the Kansas Halo Act is unconstitutional, revisit our earlier post: https://shorturl.at/1Bcpd

Check out the comments for the full KWCH story!

04/03/2026

From her early days building the Grace Wu Kungfu School to receiving a certificate of recognition from Mayor Lily Wu 40 years later, Office Manager Grace Wu‑Monnat continues to inspire. The April 2026 issue of The Active Age celebrates Grace's legacy of teaching, leadership, and mentorship that has shaped generations across Wichita.

03/18/2026

“This statute ticks off about every box on the ‘this is unconstitutional list.’”

✅It’s overbroad.
✅It allows for content discrimination.
✅It has a chilling effect on free speech.
✅It’s a prior restraint on the constitutional right to gather news.

And it has no carveouts for the media—even though newsgathering is a core component of the First Amendment.

Criminal defense attorney Dan Monnat reminds Kansans, “We already have laws and ordinances that tell people they can’t interfere with first responders and law enforcement.”

Several states even have similar 25-foot buffer zones or HALO laws, but Kansas is taking it much further.

• Other states: require an order or other clear direction
• SB 452: requires an amorphous “visible or audible signal”

• Other states: require interference, harassment, or threats
• SB 452: merely requires first responders to reasonably believe that they are “being distracted” or “have an increased level of concern” of physical harm or damage to property.

And like the proposed expansion of Florida’s HALO law, SB 452 includes local, state, and federal law enforcement officers.

Dan Monnat warns that the chilling effect of creating the crime of “unlawful approach of a first responder” with these vague conditions is that Kansans—including the press—“don’t want to risk writing; they don’t want to risk speech; they don’t want to risk protest—because they don’t know whether they’ll be thrown in jail or not.”

Click for the full KWCH story!
Check out the comments for the full text of SB 452!

Opponents say the bill is too vague and tramples constitutional rights, making it a crime to 'distract' first responders.

02/25/2026

“What bathroom Big Brother have they appointed to oversee all these government bathrooms?”

Kansas lawmakers have overridden Governor Kelly’s veto of the “Bathroom Bill” 🚻requiring Kansans to use public restrooms and locker rooms that match their s*x at birth.

⚠️Escalating penalties could expose reported violators to thousands of dollars in fines or even criminal misdemeanor charges carrying up to 6 months in the county jail.

Step 1: H. Sub. for SB 244 --> Now law
Step 2: Enforcement --> Unclear

Criminal defense attorney Dan Monnat raises colorful yet central questions:

👮 “Does it mean birth certificate inspections or driver’s license inspections or background checks at the bathroom door? Is this going to require government sentries at the door of bathrooms?”

⚖️He also flags Fourth Amendment search-and-seizure and Fourteenth Amendment due process implications:

“And what kind of search may a law enforcement officer want to launch? Could a judge even issue a search warrant for the kind of search that might be required to determine what the gender or s*x of this person is? And might such a search so shock the conscience that not even a warranted search would pass constitutional due process?”

Click 🖱️for the full story!

The new law requires Kansans to use restrooms matching their assigned s*x at birth in government buildings.

02/19/2026

Our clients know her as the incomparable Office Manager who keeps us on track at M&S, as well as an incredibly astute jury consultant for our courtroom trials. But to hundreds more in Wichita and around the world, she's also known as elite Martial Arts Master Grace Wu-Monnat and founder of the Grace Wu Kung Fu School. The school celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, and Wichita Mayor Lily Wu (no relation) has honored Grace with a Certificate of Appreciation from the City of Wichita. The school, at 122 N. St. Francis in Old Town, has trained hundreds of children and adults in all forms of Kung Fu, Shaolin Kung Fu, Tai Chi, Bagua and Wude (martial ethics).

“Congratulations to Grace Wu Kung Fu School on 40 remarkable years of teaching, inspiring and building community,” Mayor Lily Wu said. “Master Grace Wu-Monnat’s commitment to excellence, discipline and character has touched generations of Wichita families, and we are proud to honor her legacy.”

Fittingly, the certificate of appreciation comes during the week in which millions worldwide are celebrating the Chinese New Year and the Year of the Horse. The symbolic timing is appropriate, as the Horse embodies enthusiasm, speed and fieriness – just like the teachings of Kung Fu, Grace said.

“The study of Chinese martial arts emphasizes physical health, mental strength, joy and character,” Grace said. “The ancient arts can be learned and practiced at any age, which makes this a sport that can be enjoyed by individuals and families alike.”

Grace encourages people to take up martial arts as a family activity, drawing on her own family experiences which include several generations and multiple Grandmasters. While growing up in China, she began training at age 3 under her mother, Professor Wang Ju-rong, a New China’s first generation Wushu Grandmaster; her father, Dr. Wu Cheng-de, a prominent Wushu Master and orthopedic doctor; and her grandfather, Grandmaster Wang Zi-ping. She later earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education with an emphasis on Chinese martial arts from Shanghai Teachers University. After emigrating to the United States, she established the Grace Wu Kung Fu school in Wichita in 1986 and completed a master’s degree in physical education from Wichita State University in 1991.

In 2024, Grace received a lifetime achievement award from KungFuMagazine.com, sponsor of the international Tiger Claw Elite Championships & Shaolin Kung Fu Games Grand Champion. She was also inducted into the Amateur Athletic Union’s Chinese Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 2008.

Grace and our founder, Dan Monnat, have also shared the philosophy of Chinese martial arts throughout the legal profession by incorporating the concepts of Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War” into the firm’s courtroom defense strategy. Dan and Grace have also developed “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Kung Fu Strategies for Trial,” a continuing legal education program offered through the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and other organizations. The seminar is often featured at national and regional legal conferences.

02/17/2026

We are delighted to welcome Ashley Grams to our formidable criminal defense team at Monnat & Spurrier!

“In a minute with Ashley Grams you know she has the heart and intellect of a true criminal defense trial lawyer. In another minute you see her outstanding academic credentials, work ethic, and early excellent ‘not guilty’ verdicts already establishing that she is headed for elite courtroom performance.” – Dan Monnat

Get to know Ashley by checking out her page at https://monnat.com/ashley-grams/

02/05/2026

A Viral Doorbell Video does not a Slam Dunk Case Make 🏀

Criminal defense attorney Dan Monnat reminds KAKEland 🌻
that even when the nation is outraged by a doorbell video of a physical altercation, it is up to prosecutors to prove the charges against a defendant beyond a reasonable doubt.⚖️

They can either take the case to jury trial; or defense counsel, the prosecution, and the victim can work out a plea agreement to avoid a drawn-out jury trial. 🤝

The parties in this case agreed to dismiss with prejudice the felony aggravated domestic battery charge. Daniel Espitia Guevara pled to misdemeanor domestic battery and criminal restraint and was sentenced to probation for one year.

The DV tag 🏷️means that he must attend a domestic violence offender assessment, and he is not permitted to contact the victim.

Click🖱️on the link for the full story!

Court documents say a neighbor’s Ring doorbell camera captured video of a woman being grabbed and pulled away. The neighbor later called 911, and Wichita police posted images and video

11/18/2025

11/06/2025

Monnat & Spurrier, Chartered, Ranked Regionally in 5 practice areas by Best Law Firms® in 2026 with 3 Lawyers Recognized as Best Lawyers® Award Recipients and 1 Lawyer Named to 2026 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America.

Congratulations Dan Monnat, Stan Spurrier, Eli O'Brien, and Braxton Eck!!

09/17/2025

Can your Facebook, X, or Instagram rant cost you your job?

KWCH 12 News asked Monnat & Spurrier attorney Dan Monnat to weigh in on the clash between the First Amendment freedom of speech and what rights an employer might have to terminate employees who post on social media in violation of the employer's company policies or contrary to the employer's opinions and beliefs.

Many people have been fired over voicing disagreement with Kirk's opinions or celebrating his death, but now the legal experts weigh in: where does this fall in regard to free speech laws?