Opinion ID: 2585418
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: first amendment defense instruction

Text: Whitesell offered the following instruction concerning his First Amendment defense: In considering whether the state has proved a `course of conduct,' you shall not consider the contents of the Bible that Jon Whitesell allegedly sent to Julie Whitesell or the content of the Kansas Statute on Adultery which Jon Whitesell allegedly sent to Julie Whitesell, as these are both constitutionally protected free speech and are excluded from the definition of `course of conduct.' As we noted earlier in this opinion, Whitesell had no First Amendment right to express speech and conduct in a way which was violative of the privacy rights of another. Whitesell cannot use the First Amendment as a shield to protect him from punishment for his harmful criminal behavior. Whitesell was not entitled to an additional instruction on a First Amendment defense. The PIK instruction given by the court specifically addressed the fact that any conduct protected by the First Amendment should be excluded from course of conduct pursuant to K.S.A. 21-3438(d)(1). See PIK Crim.3d 56.39. Whitesell's proposed instruction did not cover a defense but inappropriately attempted to make a legal conclusion that his act of sending the Bible and Kansas adultery statute was a constitutionally protected act. The trial court did not error in refusing to give the proffered First Amendment defense instruction.