Opinion ID: 2810144
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: jurisdiction

Text: Statutory interpretation and jurisdictional challenges involve questions of law subject to unlimited appellate review. [Citation omitted.] State v. Williams, 298 Kan. 1075, 1079, 319 P.3d 528 (2014). 7 Before the Court of Appeals, the State argued that Dull's categorical challenge to his lifetime postrelease supervision was a thinly-veiled attempt to challenge his individual sentence. Accordingly, the State argued the appellate court did not have jurisdiction to consider an appeal from a presumptive or downward departure sentence, including an individual challenge to the constitutionality of a sentence. See K.S.A. 214721; State v. Huerta, 291 Kan. 831, Syl. ¶ 3, 247 P.3d 1043 (2011) (constitutional infirmity not subject to direct appeal in individual presumptive case); State v. Johnson, 286 Kan. 824, 841-42, 190 P.3d 207 (2008) (if sentence scheme itself is not being challenged as constitutionally infirm, court lacks jurisdiction to consider individual presumptive sentence); State v. Clemons, 273 Kan. 328, 343-44, 45 P.3d 384 (2002) (no jurisdiction to consider whether individual presumptive sentence was cruel and unusual punishment). The Court of Appeals rejected this argument, reasoning this court had not questioned jurisdiction in Mossman and had granted review and remanded two cases which had been dismissed for lack of jurisdiction. See State v. Vanskiver, No. 101,214, order of dismissal filed September 29, 2009, rev. granted and remanded September 13, 2010; and State v. Collins, No. 100,996, order of dismissal filed August 31, 2009, rev. granted and remanded June 23, 2010. Subsequently, this court determined that a presumptive prison sentence does not render an appellate court without jurisdiction, under K.S.A. 21-4721(c)(1), to review the imposition of a lifetime postrelease supervision period. Williams, 298 Kan. at 1080. Additionally, as discussed in the second issue, Dull's sentence for aggravated indecent liberties in this case was a departure sentence and this court has jurisdiction to consider an appeal pursuant to K.S.A. 21-4721(a) (A departure sentence is subject to appeal by the defendant.); see also State v. Looney, 299 Kan. at 908 (statute makes no distinction between favorable and unfavorable departure). The State chose not to cross- 8 petition this ruling on jurisdiction, but this court has a duty to consider jurisdictional issues sua sponte. See Williams, 298 Kan. at 1080. Accordingly, we have jurisdiction to consider this issue. Preservation of Issue The Court of Appeals also considered whether Dull's attempt to bring a categorical challenge to his sentence under both the Eighth Amendment and § 9 of the Kansas Constitution Bill of Rights could be raised for the first time on appeal. The panel noted three exceptions to the general rule: (1) The newly asserted claim involves only a question of law arising on proved or admitted facts and is determinative of the case; (2) consideration of the claim is necessary to serve the ends of justice or to prevent the denial of fundamental rights; and (3) the district court is right for the wrong reason. State v. Gomez, 290 Kan. 858, 862, 235 P.3d 1203 (2010). Dull, 2013 WL 193036, at . Applying State v. Gomez, 290 Kan. 858, 862, 235 P.3d 1203 (2010), the panel separated its analysis under the Eighth Amendment from its analysis under § 9 of the Kansas Constitution Bill of Rights. Additionally, it identified that challenges to proportionality under the Eighth Amendment are divided into two classifications: (1) the length of term-of-years sentences given all the circumstances in a particular case; and (2) categorical restrictions on the death penalty. This second classification also encompasses cases in which the court implements the proportionality standard based on certain categorical restrictions. See State v. Ross, 295 Kan. 424, 428, 284 P.3d 309 (2012). As a challenge under the first classification is case-specific, which requires factual findings, it is precluded from being raised for the first time on appeal. See Gomez, 290 Kan. at 864-65. Likewise, a challenge under § 9 of the Kansas Constitution Bill of Rights 9 generally cannot be raised for the first time on appeal because of the factual inquiries involved. 290 Kan. at 867-68 (application of State v. Freeman, 223 Kan. 362, 367, 574 P.2d 950 [1978], factors in § 9 analysis involves both legal and factual inquiries). The opposite is true under the second classification, a categorical proportionality challenge under the Eighth Amendment. After identifying the nature of the offense and the characteristics of the offender, the Graham Court applied a two-prong analysis in considering a categorical challenge under the Eighth Amendment. This analysis considers whether a national consensus against the sentencing practice exists and instructs the court to use its own independent judgment taking into account precedent and the Eighth Amendment. 560 U.S. at 61. As the factors assessed in a categorical proportionality challenge are not case specific and generally raise questions of law, a categorical proportionality challenge may be raised for the first time on appeal under certain circumstances. Gomez, 290 Kan. at 866. Accordingly, the panel correctly concluded that it could consider only Dull's Eighth Amendment categorical proportionality challenge involving only questions of law. In his petition for review, Dull frames his issue as whether the lifetime postrelease supervision violates the Eighth Amendment and § 9 of the Kansas Bill of Rights, and he repeatedly refers to § 9. However, he does not challenge the panel's preservation rulings, and he narrows the issue in his petition as focusing on the Graham Court's second classification. [I]ssues before the Supreme Court include all issues properly before the Court of Appeals which the petition for review or cross-petition allege were decided erroneously by the Court of Appeals. Supreme Court Rule 8.03(h)(1) (2014 Kan. Ct. R. Annot. 80). This court will not consider issues not presented or fairly included in the petition. See Supreme Court Rule 8.03(a)(4)(c) (2014 Kan. Ct. R. Annot. 77). If a party fails to 10 challenge a dispositive procedural ruling in the petition for review, it is not properly before this court. See State v. Allen, 293 Kan. 793, 796, 268 P.3d 1198 (2012). Consequently, the only argument properly before this court is a categorical proportionality challenge under the Eighth Amendment.