State v. Quested

Thirty years ago this court expressly declared that “[i]n Kansas, sentencing of an individual is strictly controlled by statute.” State v. Osbey, 238 Kan. 280, 288, 710 P. 2d 676 (1985). This court has *286never disavowed this declaration. Indeed, we have often repeated it as a ruling principle.

“Control” has been defined as “[t]o exercise authority or dominating influence over; direct; regulate.” The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language 290 (1971). “Strictly” has been defined as “closely, precisely, rigorously; stringently.” Black’s Law Dictionary 1591 (rev. 4th ed. 1968). In a…