State v. Shields

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF KANSAS No. 122,897 STATE OF KANSAS, Appellee, v. MELVIN LAVON SHIELDS, Appellant. SYLLABUS BY THE COURT 1. When a party challenges a district court's failure to give a particular instruction, we review the challenge in three steps. First, we decide whether a failure to preserve the issue or a lack of appellate jurisdiction precludes us from reviewing the challenge at all. Second, we evaluate the merits of the claim to determine whether the district court erred by failing to give the instruction. Third, we determine whether the district court's error…