Opinion ID: 2575790
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Issue 4: Is the Kansas hard 50 sentencing scheme unconstitutional?

Text: Next, Kirtdoll challenges the constitutionality of the hard 50 sentencing scheme under Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 147 L. Ed. 2d 435, 120 S. Ct. 2348 (2000), and Jones v. United States, 526 U.S. 227, 143 L. Ed. 2d 311, 119 S. Ct. 1215 (1999). This court has de novo review of constitutional questions. State v. Oliver, 280 Kan. 681, 708, 124 P.3d 493 (2005). This court has previously rejected the same challenge in numerous cases. See, e.g., Oliver, 280 Kan. at 708; State v. Wilkerson, 278 Kan. 147, 160, 91 P.3d 1181 (2004); State v. Hebert, 277 Kan. 61, 107-08, 82 P.3d 470 (2004); State v. Douglas, 274 Kan. 96, 111-12, 49 P.3d 446 (2002), cert. denied 537 U.S. 1198 (2003). We see no reason to retreat from that position now.