Amherst professor Austin Sarat examines the current state and history of the death penalty in Midwestern states, particularly Kansas, Nebraska, and Wyoming. Professor Sarat argues that growing bipartisan opposition to capital punishment in these traditionally conservative states, based on concerns about costs, effectiveness, and potential wrongful executions, may contribute to a broader national movement toward abolishing the death penalty.

SMU Dedman School of Law professor Joanna L. Grossman comments on a recent decision by the Kansas Supreme Court holding that a woman who conceives through artificial insemination and her same-sex partner can both be deemed the legal parents of any resulting child born during their relationship under the Kansas Parentage Act, even if the couple has not entered into a co-parenting agreement. Grossman explains the facts of the case and the court’s reasoning, and she explains why the court effectively balanced the rights and interests of the two women.

SMU Dedman School of Law professor Joanna L. Grossman comments on the recent decision by the Kansas Supreme Court recognizing a state constitutional right to abortion. Grossman explains the historical backdrop of the dispute and describes the reasoning behind the decision of the Kansas Supreme Court.