Op Ed on Public Defense Day and The Gault Center’s Work in Kansas
In 2020, the Gault Center was invited by the Kansas Supreme Court to conduct a Statewide Assessment of its youth defense delivery system. Since that time, the Gault Center has been working with partners in Kansas to build a statewide Youth Defense System, and in 2025, released a five-year follow-up assessment in partnership with Progeny Youth Leaders.
Please see the op-ed written by Senior Youth Defense Counsel Sarah Johnson, celebrating March 18 as Kansas Public Defense Day, and encouraging the State of Kansas to fund a robust, statewide youth defense system.
“Public Defense Day is a critical moment to elevate the full scope of the conversation around the fundamental right to counsel by naming how it includes young people. . . . Now is the moment to fulfill the promises of Gideon and Gault by building a robust, statewide youth defense system. The future of Kansas’ youth and, inherently, the future of this state compel decisive investment and unwavering commitment. We encourage Kansas to fulfill the principles of both Gault and Gideon by ensuring every child is afforded the defense — and the future — that the people of Kansas deserve.”
