Will there be justice in Kansas?

After a two-year delay, criminal charges against Planned Parenthood of Kansas are moving forward. The charges include 23 felonies and chiefly concern illegal post-viability abortions and failure to report statutory rape. Jill Stanek has a short synopsis of the case’s convoluted history.

Kansas pro-lifers are trying to be optimistic. But they know that Planned Parenthood can and will appeal all the way to the state supreme court if it has to. In Kansas, supreme court justices are appointed rather than elected. Five of the seven justices were appointed by pro-abortion Kathleen Sebelius, and one once worked for a pro-abortion “public interest” firm. We can only hope that they are willing to put their biases aside and view the case objectively.

Meanwhile, former Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline, who initiated the case, has been ruthlessly targeted. Despite the findings of three judges that his charges against Planned Parenthood have merit, an ethics trial will begin on February 21. He is accused of allowing his pro-life views to override his prosecutorial responsibilities. Kline is unashamedly pro-life, but if there is probable cause to believe that PP has committed a crime–as, again, three different judges have ruled– then there is no ethical conflict.

On the other hand, ignoring legitimate criminal accusations for political reasons– which is essentially what abortion advocates wanted Kline to
do– would have been a violation of Kline’s ethical duties. Attorneys General represent the people, and must investigate all criminal matters with due diligence.