State v. Bowser

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF KANSAS No. 120,350 STATE OF KANSAS, Appellee, v. CHARLES D. BOWSER, Appellant. SYLLABUS BY THE COURT 1. A litigant must prove bias or prejudice from the district court when asserting the judge violated Kansas Judicial Canon 2, Rule 2.3 (2020 Kan. S. Ct. R. 449). 2. District court judges must fulfill their duties in a neutral manner. A district court judge errs by becoming an advocate for one party or another during plea negotiations. Merely emphasizing the potential benefits of a plea offer does not, however, constitute advocacy. 3. When the jury asks an…