Opinion ID: 2382800
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 11

Heading: Issue 6: Arbitrary and Capricious Argument

Text: Garza next argues that K.S.A. 21-4643(d), the departure statute contained in Jessica's Law, violates his due process rights under the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution and § 18 of the Kansas Constitution Bill of Rights because it allows for arbitrary and discriminatory decision making. Principally, Garza argues the departure statute is unconstitutional because it allows arbitrary decision making. The State treats this as a challenge to the district court's determination that substantial and compelling reasons did not exist to justify departure. This court recently addressed a defendant's due process rights at sentencing, and a part of our analysis determined that the sentencing court's discretion, by itself, does not violate due process if the discretion is exercised within the requirements of procedural due process. Easterling, 289 Kan. at 482, 213 P.3d 418. In Easterling, the defendant argued his due process rights were violated because the sentencing judge based his sentence, in part, on information contained in an arrest report that the defendant could not dispute and the State did not prove. This court recognized a defendant is entitled to due process at sentencing. 289 Kan. at 476, 213 P.3d 418. It also recognized a sentencing court may consider any circumstance providing a more complete and accurate picture of the defendant's background, history, or behavior, and that the use of such information does not by itself violate a defendant's due process rights. 289 Kan. at 481, 213 P.3d 418. But this court added that due process required a court to assure itself the information was reliable, accurate, and trustworthy, and the defendant must have an opportunity to rebut the evidence. 289 Kan. at 482, 213 P.3d 418. Garza does not argue the judge violated his due process rights while using his discretion. Instead, he argues the discretion itself violates due process. Under the analysis in Easterling, this argument lacks merit.