Criminal Law Commons^™

Kansas V. Boettger: On Petition For A Writ Of Certiorari To The Supreme Court Of The State Of Kansas, Paul Cassell, John Ehrett, Allyson N. Ho, Bradley Hubbard, Matthew Scorcio, Philip Axt, Thomas Molloy

Utah Law Faculty Scholarship

This amicus brief in support of Kansas’ petition for certiorari in Kansas v. Boettger discusses the important issue of whether the First Amendment require proof of specific intent to criminally punish violent threats. The brief argues that the First Amendment does not contain any such requirement and that creating any such requirement would interfere with effective prosecution of domestic violence.

The Kansas Supreme Court’s decision over which review is being sought required the state to prove that an abuser had a specific intent to cause fear. If allowed to stand, the decision will make prosecuting and preventing domestic violence even …