Opinion ID: 2460345
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The State's Standard: Was the Outcome Affected?

Text: The State cites State v. Rinck, 256 Kan. 848, 888 P.2d 845 (1995). In that case, this court concluded the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying a motion for mistrial because the alleged misconducta witness' statement that he ran into the defendant after the defendant had been released from prisoncould not have affected the result at trial. Rinck, 256 Kan. at 854, 888 P.2d 845. Similar language has been used in recent decisions. For example, in State v. Dixon, 289 Kan. 46, 55, 209 P.3d 675 (2009), we indicated that an appellate court should consider whether a limiting instruction was given, the degree of prejudice, and whether any evidence improperly admitted would affect the outcome of the trial. (Emphasis added.) Neither of these cases explains the origin of the would affect the outcome of the trial standard. Rather both cite to prior cases that, in turn, cite to prior cases. Tracking this judicial lineage eventually leads to previous versions of K.S.A. 60-261 as the source of the standard. ( Rinck, 256 Kan. at 853, 888 P.2d 845, cites to State v. Mitchell, 220 Kan. 700, 703, 556 P.2d 874 [1976], and Dixon, 289 Kan. at 55, 209 P.3d 675, cites to State v. Sanders, 263 Kan. 317, 324, 949 P.2d 1084 [1997], which in turn cites to Mitchell. Mitchell cites to State v. Bly, 215 Kan. 168, 178, 523 P.2d 397 [1974], overruled on other grounds by State v. Mims, 220 Kan. 726, 556 P.2d 387 [1976], disapproved on other grounds by State v. Gunby, 282 Kan. 39, 144 P.3d 647 [2006]. In Bly, 215 Kan. at 178, 523 P.2d 397, the court cites to the statutory source, K.S.A. 60-261. The 2010 amendments to K.S.A. 60-261 did not change the substance of the statute that was in effect in Bly or at the time of Ward's trial; the amendments are stylistic only. See K.S.A. 2010 Supp. 60-261; Judicial Council Civil Code Advisory Committee, Report to Judicial Council regarding Proposed Amendments to the Kansas Code of Civil Procedure, Comments to K.S.A. 60-261, p. 159 [December 4, 2009]).