Douglas County District Judge Paula Martin was up for retention on Nov. 2, 2004 for another four-year term. A group of citizens, led by the mother of a 13-year-old rape victim outraged by the sentences Martin handed down in that case, organized an unsuccesful campaign to remove Martin from office on the premise that Martin's sentences had been too lenient - the first time a formal effort had been made to remove a local judge. Other citizens came to Martin's defense and said the court has benefited from her judicial experience and wisdom.
Martin survived the attempt to remove her from the bench, with 63 percent of the voters saying they wanted her to stay in office for another four-year term.
In this section you'll find coverage of Judge Martin's decisions, including subsequent developments in the cases that inspired the drive to remove her from the bench, as well as community reaction to the issues raised by her sentences.
- Judge Paula Martin to join Kansas Supreme Court to hear four appeals
- February 2, 2012
- Douglas County District Judge Paula Martin will sit with the Kansas Supreme Court next week to hear oral arguments in four appeals, according to the state’s Office of Judicial Administration.
- Third Wichita man pleads guilty to December robbery of three female KU students at Lawrence apartment
- September 23, 2011
- A third Wichita man has pleaded guilty in connection with a December robbery of three female Kansas University students at a Lawrence apartment.
- Kansas Supreme Court reduces length of time Last Call shooter must register as violent offender
- 11:40 a.m., August 20, 2010 Updated 11:51 a.m.
- A man sentenced to 15 years in prison for shooting three people in 2008 outside a former Lawrence bar will not have to register as a violent offender for the rest of his life once he is released from prison, according to a ruling Friday by the Kansas Supreme Court.
- 42-year-old man sentenced for two sex crimes
- February 9, 2009
- Guy Drum pleaded no contest in November to aggravated indecent liberties with a child and attempted aggravated indecent liberties with a child.
- Stabbing conviction brings probation
- January 17, 2009
- A Douglas County judge on Friday sentenced a Lawrence man to serve two years on probation for a stabbing during a February 2008 bar fight.
- Report recommends Judges Malone and Martin be retained
- August 29, 2008
- Douglas County District Judges Paula Martin and Michael Malone should be retained by voters in November, according to state government report cards released Friday.
- Jury seated in Boardwalk fire retrial
- May 1, 2007
- On the advice of his attorney, Jason A. Rose rarely lifts his eyes to look directly at the people who will be deciding whether he’s guilty of murder and arson. “A lot of times he has to do what he’s doing now - just look down,” his attorney, Ron Evans, said Monday during jury selection. “He really can’t win a body language game with you folks. Anything he does you could take the wrong way.”
- Mistaken arrest may lock out bondsman
- September 6, 2006
- Armed bounty hunters took Robert D. Davis II from the comfort of his home last week and delivered him to jail; the next day he appeared before a Douglas County judge.
- Appeals court overturns ruling favoring fraternity
- May 9, 2006
- A fraternity-house dispute is headed back to Douglas County court after the Kansas Court of Appeals ruled a local judge abused her discretion and “did not have due regard for what was just and fair” in a decision about the case.
- Hearing scheduled in downtown shooting
- March 10, 2006
- The Topeka man charged in a Feb. 5 shooting death outside a downtown nightclub made a brief court appearance Thursday, again under tightened courtroom security.
- Lawrence man stands trial for infant’s murder
- February 17, 2006
- A judge orders a Lawrence man accused of killing his 5-month-old daughter to stand trial. After a day long hearing Judge Paula Martin found probable cause to bind Jay Decker over on trial on first degree murder charges.
- Driver killed in one-vehicle accident on county road
- January 14, 2006
- A Douglas County woman died Friday evening after a rollover accident five miles south of Lawrence at a curve on Douglas County Road 460. Medical units and deputies were called at 4:51 p.m. to the scene about two miles west of the Zarco 66 station on U.S. Highway 59, said Lt. Kari Wempe, spokeswoman for the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.
- Prison time ordered in resentencing for teen rape
- December 7, 2005
- Two men originally given 60 days in jail for the statutory rape of an intoxicated 13-year-old girl were ordered to prison Tuesday.
- Martin hands down tougher rape conviction sentences
- December 6, 2005
- Two men originally given 60 days in jail for the statutory rape of an intoxicated 13-year-old were sentenced to prison this morning. Judge Paula Martin was ordered by the Kansas Court of Appeals to hand down new sentences to Brian K. Ussery, Tonganoxie, and William N. Haney, Lawrence.
- Another hearing set stemming from rape
- December 2, 2005
- A judge heard more evidence Thursday about whether a mentally disabled Lawrence man should lose his probation and go to prison for his role in the 2003 statutory rape of a 13-year-old girl.
- Judge hears testimony in 2003 sex crime
- November 18, 2005
- A judge heard testimony Thursday but didn’t make a decision about whether a mentally retarded man convicted of a sex crime against a 13-year-old girl should be sent to prison.
- Court rejects rapists’ appeal
- Men who assaulted teen face resentencing
- November 12, 2005
- The Kansas Supreme Court has said it would not review the case of two men convicted in the 2003 statutory rape of an intoxicated 13-year-old girl - a decision that sets the stage for the men to be sentenced again.
- Lawyer: Offender’s supervision inadequate
- Prosecutors seek to revoke probation in 2003 sex assault
- October 8, 2005
- A defense attorney said “someone dropped the ball” in supervising a mentally disabled man who was ordered to probation for having sex with a 13-year-old girl in a high-profile 2003 case.
- Hearing scheduled in sexual assault case
- September 9, 2005
- It will be another month before a judge decides whether a Lawrence man should lose his probation and go to prison for his role in the statutory rape of an intoxicated 13-year-old girl.
- Probation violations may land rapist in prison
- September 2, 2005
- For the past year, he’s been free on probation, cleaning up trash around the courthouse for community-service work, going to bars and occasionally staying at a homeless shelter.
Previous | Next
Top ads RSS
- ASSEMBLY/PRODUCTION WORKERS Positions available immediately for Assembly/ Production Workers. Apply ...
- Drivers CCI is Now Hiring Qualified, Professional Drivers For Local/Regional ...
- Research Assistant The High Throughput Screening Lab seeks a research ...
- Assistant Branch Manager & Banker
- IT Project Manager Lead large and medium IT projects/program from ...
Marketplace
Arts & Entertainment · Bars · Theatres · Restaurants · Coffeehouses · Libraries · Antiques · Services
- Capitalism February 13, 2012 · 96 comments
- Lawrence man sues Kansas highway patrolman over Tasing incident February 13, 2012 · 27 comments
- Kansas Senate leader rejects bill to allow guns on college campuses February 10, 2012 · 150 comments
- Legislature considering 13 alcohol bills February 13, 2012 · 36 comments
- On the street: How would you feel about working with your significant other? February 13, 2012 · 33 comments
- On the street: What type of sled are you using? February 14, 2012 · 3 comments
- Sound Off: I have not received a phone book for the past two years. Is there a phone number to call February 13, 2012 · 19 comments
- Sound Off: I heard that postage went up recently. Are the “forever” stamps that were purchased in 20 February 11, 2012 · 68 comments
- Sound off: Are stop signs in grocery store parking lots legally enforceable? February 12, 2012 · 43 comments
- Blog: What Is The Matter With Liberal Kansans? February 13, 2012 · 8 comments
- Town Talk: Craft beer festival coming to Downtown Lawrence; city commissioners set date to begin discussing trash changes; weekly property sales February 13, 2012
- Branch manager of Chicago Public Library to be first of three finalists to interview for directorship of Lawrence Public Library February 13, 2012
- Construction starts on home for family who endured tragedies February 11, 2012
- White House's 2013 budget includes no new money for Kansas bio-security lab February 13, 2012
- Flory dairy farm selling equipment, taking on different work after 60 years February 12, 2012
- Report: Speedy running back commits to KU February 13, 2012
- Regents work to give proper credit February 12, 2012
- KU women lose Davis to injury, fall to K-State, 47-43 February 12, 2012
- KU Cancer Center ready for NCI inspection, director says January 25, 2012
- War costs January 20, 2012
