Phill Kline abortion investigation case before Kansas Supreme Court

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - The Kansas Supreme Court is preparing to take up an ethics case against former Attorney General Phill Kline over his actions during investigations of abortion providers.

The court was hearing arguments from attorneys Thursday. Five of the seven justices removed themselves from the case, requiring the appointment of substitutes.

Kline was Kansas attorney general from 2003 to 2007 and Johnson County district attorney in 2007 and 2008.

A three-member panel of the state Board of Discipline of Attorneys has recommended Kline's law license be suspended indefinitely. Kline has strongly denied any ethics violations.

The disciplinary panel contends Kline repeatedly misled or allowed subordinates to mislead others, including a Kansas City-area grand jury, to further his investigations.

Kline is now a visiting professor at Liberty University in Virginia.