David Bell, Criminal Defense Attorney

David Bell, Criminal Defense Attorney David Bell is a Top-Rated Criminal Defense Attorney in Kansas City | Voted Best Lawyer in KC 2023

08/14/2026

One thing I took away from my conversation with Judge John Torrence is that sentencing should not erase someone’s humanity.

As a criminal defense attorney, I have represented people in cases where the facts were difficult and the outcome was serious. But even when someone is going to prison, there is still value in treating that person with dignity and reminding them that their life is not over.

At some point, most people come home. The hope is that they return ready to be a parent, a grandparent, a neighbor, and a productive part of their community.

Accountability matters. So does how we treat people while they are being held accountable.

Listen to the full episode:
https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-gy5j5-1b2e5fb

Watch the full conversation on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/0TmEEv1YV8g?si=uNppQFy24EkkzPnC

08/11/2026

Why does the right to a jury trial matter so much?

Judge John Torrence explains how the founders had seen what can happen when too much power is concentrated in one person. When the prosecutor, judge, and fact finder are all the same individual, the risk of bias and bad decision-making grows.

A jury spreads that responsibility across multiple perspectives and when the stakes can change someone’s life, who gets a voice in the room matters.

Listen to Lens of a Lawyer on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms. Search “Lens of a Lawyer” wherever you listen.

What does justice look like from the bench?I recently sat down with Judge John Torrence for a wide-ranging conversation ...
08/07/2026

What does justice look like from the bench?

I recently sat down with Judge John Torrence for a wide-ranging conversation about the justice system, the responsibility that comes with serving on the bench, and how judges approach the difficult decisions that shape people’s lives.

Judge Torrence brings years of courtroom experience to the conversation, offering insight into courtroom procedure, the broader role of judges in our legal system, and what it means to see the law operate in real time.

Watch the full conversation on YouTube or listen on all major podcast platforms.

YouTube 📺 : https://bit.ly/4fUimzT
Podcast 🎧 : https://bit.ly/4wjQ9aD

08/03/2026

Two states can examine the death penalty and reach opposite conclusions because they may not be weighing the same questions.

Professor Sheldon Evans and I discussed how our approaches to punishment are shaped by deeper beliefs about justice, deterrence, public safety, and the role of government.

Listen to our full conversation on Lens of a Lawyer, available on all major podcast platforms.

🎧 : https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-d57ea-1b0e771

What is the true purpose of prison?Sentencing sits at the center of criminal justice, sparking fierce debate over everyt...
07/31/2026

What is the true purpose of prison?

Sentencing sits at the center of criminal justice, sparking fierce debate over everything from supposedly lenient terms to the devastating unintended consequences of mandatory minimums.

In the newest episode of Lens of a Lawyer, I sit down with Professor Sheldon Evans to examine the historical, social, and philosophical forces that shape how we punish crime.

Professor Sheldon Evans: Why Do We Punish? is live now on all major podcast platforms.

🎧: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-d57ea-1b0e771

07/29/2026

A photo lineup should never make a witness feel like they have to choose someone.

The instruction matters. A better approach makes one thing clear: identifying the guilty person is important, but so is protecting an innocent one from being wrongly accused.

Small changes in procedure can make a major difference in the pursuit of justice.

Listen to the full conversation: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-dw35x-19bb198

07/28/2026

“Why didn’t they do it the right way?”

We hear that question constantly when discussing immigration. But before accepting the soundbite, we should ask a more important question: What does “the right way” actually look like within this system?

My conversation with Rekha Sharma-Crawford reinforced how important it is to look beyond the narrative we are given. Empathy matters, but so does understanding how the system actually operates and recognizing when a simple explanation does not tell the whole story.

Watch the full conversation on YouTube or listen on all major podcast platforms.

YouTube 📺 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bs4u4NJID40
Podcast 🎧 : https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-k5xic-1b0bdf8

We like to believe the justice system is built to uncover the truth. But what happens when the people operating within i...
07/27/2026

We like to believe the justice system is built to uncover the truth. But what happens when the people operating within it are hardwired to lie?

In this episode, I sit down with researcher, author and advisor Dr. Arin Reeves to examine the psychology of dishonesty, how lying shapes legal proceedings and what it means for the pursuit of justice.

Listen to “How to Deal With Liars?” on the latest episode of Lens of a Lawyer.

🎧 : https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-m8i2a-1b10d8c

07/22/2026

What happens when the legal guardrails start coming down?

No-bond policies. Government attorneys challenging decades of legal precedent. Prosecutors labeling someone a “flight risk” while immigration consequences may already restrict where they can go.

The law, the rhetoric and the reality do not always line up.

Watch the full episode now:

📺 : https://lnkd.in/eP568jC9

🎧 : https://lnkd.in/g522ARmP

Immigration and crime are constantly discussed as if they are inseparable. But immigration courts are civil courts, not ...
07/15/2026

Immigration and crime are constantly discussed as if they are inseparable. But immigration courts are civil courts, not criminal ones.

In the latest video episode of Lens of a Lawyer, I sit down with premier immigration attorney Rekha Sharma-Crawford to cut through the fear, challenge common misconceptions, and break down the legal realities shaping today’s immigration debate.

This is a grounded, nuanced conversation about one of the most complex and misunderstood issues in America.

Watch the full episode now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bs4u4NJID40

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Kansas City, MO
64105

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