James M. Concannon Publications, Presentations, and Other Activity

Articles in Law Reviews and Other Scholarly Journals

"Celebrating Volume 50: The Early History of the Washburn Law Journal," 50 Washburn Law Journal 433 (2011). [107 KB PDF]

"'The ideal place . . . for the establishment of a great Law School': The Early Years of Washburn University School of Law," 42 Washburn Law Journal 803 (2004). [243 KB PDF]

"In Memory of Distinguished Professor of Law Raymond L. Spring," 40 Washburn Law Journal 377 (2001).

"In Memoriam," 38 Washburn Law Journal 1 (1998).

"A Fond Farewell," 34 Washburn Law Journal 218 (1995).

Books and Monographs

Pattern Instructions, Kansas 4th -- Civil, 2014 Supplements (Kansas Judicial Council, Pattern Instructions Committee, 2014).

Pattern Instructions, Kansas 4th -- Criminal, 2013 Supplements (Kansas Judicial Council, Pattern Instructions Committee, 2014).

The Ideal Place . . . for the Establishment of a Great Law School: History of Washburn Law School 1903-2003 (Washburn University School of Law Alumni Association, 2012).

Coauthored, Kansas Statutes of Limitations and Time Standards, Kansas Bar Association, (1988).

Coauthored, Kansas Appellate Practice Manual, Kansas Bar Association, (1979).

Vernon's Kansas Statutes Annotated Code of Civil Procedure, Pocket Parts, 1976 (with Fowks), 1977-1986.

Bar Reviews

"Evidence," Washburn (1980-1982) and Washburn/University of Kansas Bar Review, 1982-2003.

"Examination Techniques," Washburn/University of Kansas Bar Review, 1982-2003.

"Conflict of Laws," Washburn Bar Review, 1974-1976.

Torts Bar Review, University of Kansas Bar Review, 1972-1981.

Chapters in Books

"Evidence," (chapter 13), Kansas Annual Survey (Kansas Bar Association, annually, 2008-2023).

"Evidence," Kansas Annual Survey (Kansas Bar Association, 2020).Cited in:

  • State v. Brazzle (The Kansas Supreme Court, ___ Kan. ___, 466 P.3d 1195 (July, 2020)).
  • State v. Satchell (The Kansas Supreme Court, 311 Kan. ___, 466 P.3d 459 (June, 2020)).

"Evidence," Kansas Annual Survey (Kansas Bar Association, 2019).Cited in:

  • State v. Satchell (The Kansas Supreme Court, 311 Kan. ___, 466 P.3d 459 (June, 2020)).

"Witnesses" (chapter 18), "Relevance & Extrinsic Policies Affecting Admissibility" (chapter 19), "Judicial Notice" (chapter 22), "Privileges" (chapter 23), Kansas Criminal Law Handbook, 5th ed. (Kansas Bar Association, 2016).

"Witnesses" (chapter 18), "Relevance and Extrinsic Policies Affecting Admissibility" (chapter 19), "Judicial Notice" (chapter 22) and "Privileges" (chapter 23), Kansas Criminal Law Handbook. 4th ed. (Kansas Bar Association, 2006).

"Evidence," Kansas Annual Survey, Kansas Bar Association, annually, 1996-

"Kansas Evidence Law" (chapter 3), Kansas Judges Manual. Kansas Supreme Court, 1990; 1996; 1999; 2002; 2004; 2006.

Senior Contributing Editor, "Evidence in America: The Federal Rules in the States, Chapter 58: Rules 803(24) and 804(b)(5)." Michie (1987). (4 v.).

"Recent Kansas Developments in Evidence and Procedure," Kansas Trial Lawyers Association Forum Reference Book 1979, pp. 181.

Other Publications

"Civil Code and Time Computation Changes Effective July 1," 79:6 Journal of the Kansas Bar Association 20 (June 2010). Cited in:

  • AALS Civil Procedure Newsletter (2010) for its "detailed discussion" of the first statute revising a state code of civil procedure to conform to recent style and time computation changes to the Federal Rules.

"Report of the Kansas Citizens Justice Initiative." (co-reporter) (1999).

"The Other Law Schools of Early Day Kansas," 65 Journal of the Kansas Bar Association 24 (November 1996).

"More Goo for Our Tort Stew: Implementing the Kansas Collateral Source Rule," 58 Journal of the Kansas Bar Association 19 (February 1989) (coauthored with Ron Smith).

"Admitting Government Findings in Federal Civil Cases," 6 Journal of the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association No. 6, p. 9 (1983).

"Impeaching Civil Verdicts: Juror Statements as Prejudicial Misconduct," 51 Journal of the Kansas Bar Association 201 (1983).

The Courts, Kansas Bar Association Law-Related Education pamphlet (1980).

Vernon's Kansas Forms Annotated, Code of Civil Procedure, West Publishing Co. (1980 supplements).

"Changes Proposed in Civil Rules," 17 The Circuit Rider, no. 2, pp. 3-4 (July, 1978).

"The Kansas Testimony," 1 Journal of the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association 16-17 (Spring 1977) [conflict of laws implications of products liability legislation]

Media Engagement

Quoted, "Death Penalty Cases a Factor Behind Efforts to Oust Justices," The Wichita Eagle, October 29, 2016.

"How do Kansas Supreme Court Justices Make Decisions in Cases?," KWCH 12 Eyewitness News, September 17, 2014.

Presentations

"History of Washburn Law School," Shawnee County Historical Society, Topeka, Kansas, June 13, 2021.

"Practical Evidence," Department of Children and Families, Child Support Services Fall CLE, Topeka, Kansas, October 24, 2018.

"Drafting and Editing Court Rules," Kansas Judicial Center CLE, Topeka, Kansas, October 20, 2016.

"Kansas Rules of Evidence Relating to the Admission of E-mail and Other Electronic Evidence," Kansas Judicial Conference, Topeka, Kansas, June 13, 2014.

"Appellate Jurisdiction - Back to Law School," Kansas Bar Association 2014 Appellate Practice CLE Seminar, February 21, 2014.

"History of Washburn Law School," Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, Topeka, Kansas, October 7, 2012 (presentation based on Washburn Law history "The Ideal Place ... for the Establishment of a Great Law School").

"Revised Kansas Code of Civil Procedure," CLE, Crawford County Bar Association, Pittsburg, Kansas, December 15, 2010.

"Revised Kansas Code of Civil Procedure," CLE, Leavenworth County Bar Association, Leavenworth, Kansas, December 9, 2010.

"Revised Kansas Code of Civil Procedure," CLE, Sam A. Crow Inn of Court, Topeka, Kansas, September 2, 2010.

Speaker, "Public Forum - Law Day," League of Women Voters of Emporia Program, Emporia State University, Emporia, Kansas, April 29th, 2010.

"Revised Kansas Code of Civil Procedure," CLE, Topeka Women Attorneys Association, Topeka, Kansas, August 25, 2010.

Panelist, "The Judicial Process of Revising Jury Instructions for Comprehensibility," Writing to Win: Plain Language Jury Instructions, Washburn University School of Law (Topeka, Kansas), April 7, 2008.

Professional Service

Testified on behalf of the Kansas Judicial Council before the Senate Judiciary Committee on February 9, 2021 and the House Judiciary Committee on March 23, 2021 (in support of SB 122 which amends the Kansas Evidence Code to conform its provisions relating to the original writing rule and authentication more closely to the Federal Rules of Evidence).

Submitted written testimony on behalf of the Uniform Law Commission at hearings of the Senate Judiciary Committee on February 9, 2021 and the House Judiciary Committee on March 18, 2021 (in support of SB 106, enacting the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts).

Chair, Meetings of the Uniform Law Commission Committee on Style January 29-31, 2021 and February 17-18, 2021.

Chair, Uniform Law Commission Style Committee meetings, April 30-May 3, June 5, July 2, July 8, and August 20, 2020.

Represented Kansas at the annual meeting of the Uniform Law Commission, conducted on Zoom, July 10-15, 2020 (was Style Committee Liaison for the Uniform Public Participation Protection Act, which was approved at the annual meeting).

Testified on behalf of the Uniform Law Commission before the Kansas House Judiciary Committee on HB 2713, February 19, 2020 (which would replace existing Kansas law with the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (2018)).

Testified on behalf of the Kansas Judicial Council before the Kansas Senate Judiciary Committee, in support of SB 334, February 12, 2020 (which amends the Kansas Evidence Code provisions on authentication and the original writings rule).

Appointed Chair of the Committee on Style of the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws at the concluding session of the 128th annual meeting of the Conference, in Anchorage, Alaska on July 12-17, 2019.

Style Committee Liaison, Uniform Law Commission, Registration of Canadian Money Judgments Act, 2018.

Attended meeting of Uniform Law Commission Style Committee, Madison, Wisconsin, May 3-6, 2018.

Commissioner from Kansas at the annual meeting of the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws, San Diego, California, July 14-20, 2017.

Meeting of National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws (NCCUSL) Style Subcommittee on the Uniform Guardianship, Conservatorship, and Other Protective Arrangements Act, Chicago, Illinois, June 2-4, 2017.

Meeting of National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws (NCCUSL) Style Committee, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, May 4-7, 2017.

Testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on behalf of the Kansas Judicial Council Civil Code Advisory Committee in support of SB 13 on January 24, 2017; adopting various amendments to the Kansas Code of Civil Procedure Meeting of Uniform Law Commission Style Committee in Tucson, Arizona, January 26-29, 2017.

As Kansas Commissioner, attended annual meeting of the Uniform Law Commission (ULC), Stowe, Vermont, July 8-14, 2016, and presented the memorial for Life Member Glee Smith, Jr. He also attended the Uniform Law Commission Style Committee meeting in Chicago, Illinois, September 8-11, 2016.

Attended meetings of the Kansas Judicial Council Civil Code Advisory Committee on May 13 and July 22, 2016.

Editor with other Uniform Law Commission Style Committee members, of Bryan A. Garner, Guidelines for Drafting and Editing Legislation (2016), a joint project of LawProse, Inc. and the Uniform Law Commission.

Member, ad hoc Kansas Judicial Review Committee, 2014.

As Kansas Commissioner, National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws Annual Meeting, Seattle, Washington, July 11-17, 2014.

National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws Style Committee Liaison, Model Commercial Real Estate Receivers Act and the Amendments to the Uniform Athlete Agents Act, Uniform Law Commission 2014 Annual Meeting, Seattle, Washington, July 15-16, 2014.

Attended the Uniform Law Commission Committee on Style meeting, Austin, Texas, April 24-27, 2014.

Attended the Strengthening States Delegations Committee meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 8, 2014.

Chair, ABA/AALS Site Evaluation Team, St. Thomas University School of Law, March 14-17, 2012.

Testified on behalf of Kansas Judicial Council Civil Code Advisory Committee on HB 2472, adopting amendments to the Kansas Code of Civil Procedure, House Judiciary Committee, January 30, 2012 and Senate Judiciary Committee, February 23, 2012.

Appointed, Chair of the ABA/AALS Accreditation Site Evaluation Team, Spring, 2012 (inspection of St. Thomas University School of Law).

Attended the Drafting Committee Meeting for the Uniform Protection of Charitable Assets Act, Washington, D.C., April 1-3, 2011; meetings of the Style Committee of the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws, Chicago, Illinois, April 28-May 1, 2011; and in Tuscon, Arizona, February 3-6, 2011.

Testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee, January 25, 2011 and before the House Judiciary Committee, March 2, 2011 (in support of SB 35, which would adopt for Kansas state courts Federal Rule of Evidence 502 on waiver of attorney-client privilege).

Testified before the Kansas House Judiciary Committee, February 16, 2011 (in opposition to a bill changing the method of selecting Court of Appeals judge from nonpartisan merit selection to gubernatorial appointment with Senate confirmation).

Completed re-styling of the revised rules of the Kansas Continuing Legal Education Commission, which take effect July 1, 2011.

Re-appointed, second four-year term, Kansas Commission on Judicial Performance, December 3, 2010 - December 31, 2014.

Appointment to the Kansas Judicial Council Supreme Court Rules Advisory Committee, which will recommend style and substantive amendments to the Court's rules governing the appellate and district courts, 2010-.

Style Committee Liaison, National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws, Uniform Recordation of Custodial Interrogations Act and the Uniform Regulation of Charities Act drafting committees, 2009-.

Testified on behalf of the Kansas Judicial Council Civil Code Advisory Committee before the Kansas House Judiciary Committee about HB 2656, February 11, 2010 (which restyles and substantively updates the Kansas Code of Civil Procedure, K.S.A. 60-101-60-313. The bill is the product of 17 Civil Code Committee meetings over two years and four subcommittee meetings).

Editorial, "Data Does Not Support Claim of Radical Lawyers," The Wichita Eagle / Kansas.com, March 11, 2009 (with Robert Casad).

Testified opposing HCR 5005 and HB 2123, Kansas House Judiciary Committee, February 12, 2009. (That would change the composition and method of appointment of the Nominating Commission for appellate judges, give the Governor authority to reject all the Commission's nominees, and require Senate confirmation of the Governor's appointment).

Appointed as Member, Kansas Judicial Council, Civil Code Advisory Committee, 2008-

Elected Honorary President, Topeka Bar Association, 2008-2009.

Appointed to Four-year Term, National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws Style Committee, 2008-

Appointed as Member, Board of Directors of Kansas Appleseed Foundation, Inc., 2008-

Member, Committee on Style of the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws, 2007-.

Appointed, four-year term, Kansas Commission on Judicial Performance, 2006-2010.

Honors and Awards

Recipient, Kansas Bar Association Distinguished Service Award, 2017.

Justice Award, Kansas Supreme Court, 2012.