News & Commentary

The American Civil Liberties Union in 2024 attempted to abolish the death penalty in Kansas, citing its ineffectiveness in deterring crime and propensity for racial biases.

“I think it’s pretty clear that the reason for the change is to move us away from a system of fair and impartial justice and instead towards one where justices are politicized,” said Micah Kubic, executive director of the ACLU of Kansas.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas and League of Women Voters of Kansas put the secretary of state on notice of a potential lawsuit alleging a new election-related state statute conflicts with federal election law. A notice letter sent by the ACLU, on behalf of the LWV, to Secretary of State Scott Schwab asserted provisions of House Bill 2437 were potentially not compliant with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. The bill was designed to rapidly remove ineligible voters from registration rolls and restrict the use of voter registration websites.

County election officials in Kansas should offer more options, including advance voting sites and longer hours, to encourage a higher turnout, according to a study released last week by the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas.

TOPEKA — Pivotal court cases challenging laws that have altered the lives of transgender Kansans are approaching turning points, as one moves to a higher court and two others face consolidation.

Micah Kubic, executive director of the ACLU of Kansas, wrote in a letter to Schmidt that closing sites where the median household income is lower than the Johnson County average, with a large percentage of Black and Latino residents and along the Interstate 35 corridor will “disproportionately burden low-income voters, voters of color, elderly voters, voters with disabilities, and communities with limited transportation access.”

The Department of Justice is suing Kansas over a 2004 law that allows some immigrants without legal status in the U.S. to receive in-state tuition at Kansas colleges and universities.

Micah Kubic, executive director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas, said the DOJ’s action was a coordinated attack from the federal government and Kobach on Kansas children. He said Kobach was “so determined to collude with the Trump-Vance administration that he will misuse our courts to attack the laws of the very state he serves.”

The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas called the consent decree “a cruel misuse of our courts” against people who have lived in Kansas for years. “Our state has made the conscious decision to protect and provide a path forward for all children who live in our neighborhoods to ensure they can access a college education and contribute to Kansas’ workforce and economy,” Executive Director Micah Kubic said in a statement. “For decades, Kansas in-state tuition has opened doors for students who have persevered to become health care workers, teachers, attorneys, and other professionals and make this state better. This is an aggressive attempt to slam that door shut and punish young Kansans who dare to dream.”