District Attorney

The Shawnee County District Attorney who is looking into some dinners at the Governor's mansion is narrowing his focus. The DA originally asked for all 165-lawmakers to save their records related to a series of dinners with Governor Sam Brownback last month. Now the DA is withdrawing part of his request, asking only those attended the dinners to save records. Governor Brownback hosted republicans from 13 legislative committees, and the DA thinks that's in violation of the, "Kansas Open Meeting Act. " The act requires a meeting to be open to the public when a majority of a body is present.

Former deputy district attorney Kevin O'Connor will announce Wednesday that he plans to run for Sedgwick County District Attorney.  He will run against Marc Bennett, who is the current deputy district attorney. O'Connor worked in the district attorney's office for 17 years before resigning in 2009.  He said he left because he no longer felt comfortable working for District Attorney Nola Foulston. Since leaving the office, O'Connor has worked as a special prosecutor for Butler County and the Attorney General's Office.

The two candidates vying for the position of District Attorney for the 18th Judicial District are taking part in a candidate introduction and forum today. The Kansas Republican Assembly, which is hosting the event, says Marc Bennett and Kevin O'Connor have agreed to speak and take questions from the audience. The organization also opened the forum to others who are interested in the position. Organizers say the event is to inform the public about the positions of the candidates, not as an endorsement.

Sedgwick County will have a new district attorney in 2013. Two candidates vying for that position squared-off in their first candidate forum in South Wichita Thursday. Marc Bennett and Kevin O'Connor met voters and took questions at the event hosted by the Kansas Republican Assembly. Both have worked for current Sedgwick County District Attorney Nola Foulston. She announced in September she is not seeking re-election. Bennett is a Deputy District Attorney and has worked in the office 14 years.

From DUI to death penalty cases, the District Attorney prosecutes all major crimes in Sedgwick County. "I love it, I think I could have stayed forever but I looked at my watch and said it's time to go," said District Attorney Nola Foulston. She announced Friday she won't seek a sixth term for office. "It's probably the best thing in the world to let someone else come in," she said. So for the first time in almost a quarter century, the DA's office will have a new leader.

Sedgwick County District Attorney Nola Foulston has hired a special prosecutor to help finish the appeal process for Jonathan and Reginald Carr. The brothers were convicted in 2002 for the deaths of five people and sentenced to death. Their attorneys have filed extensive appeals, a process Foulston says has taken seven years. "We have 20 boxes full that just make up the record of the appeal," Foulston said. Appeals are a legal right and typical in most cases. The Carrs' attorneys have each filed more than 300 page briefs, citing at least 30 reasons their convictions for the murders of five people  should be overturned.

By Michael Schwanke (Wichita, KS) Incumbent Nola Foulston recently began her television ad campaign for district attorney.  She is facing Wichita attorney Mark Schoenhofer. In a recent commercial she makes claims about her challenger. FactFinder 12 checked those claims to find out what's fact and what's not. Ad claims: "So Mark Schoenhofer wants the job of district attorney. Would you hire him? He's never prosecuted a felony case let alone a murder trial.