IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 23, 2007
                                                                                                     

CONTACT

Jenna Keesling

785/291-3500

SPEAKER PRO TEM DISAPPOINTED IN ATTORNEY GENERAL

Topeka – Kansas House of Representatives Speaker Pro Tem Don Dahl (R-Hillsboro) released a letter today that was sent to Attorney General Paul Morrison earlier this week.  The letter asked the Attorney General to act to ensure charges filed by the previous Attorney General against Dr. George Tiller are heard by a jury.

“Members of the Kansas Legislature have been inundated with telephone calls, petitions, letters and emails from Kansans across the state, asking that we direct the Attorney General to proceed with the criminal case against Dr. Tiller,” said Speaker Pro Tem Dahl.  “I am very disappointed in the lack of action by the state’s chief law enforcement officer regarding the issues addressed in our letter.”

Speaker Pro Tem Dahl pointed out that two district court judges have found probable cause that serious offenses have been committed at the Women’s Health Care Services. P.A. in Wichita by Dr. Tiller.  A probable cause determination is a grave matter and is defined to mean a reasonable ground of suspicion, supported by circumstances sufficiently strong in themselves to warrant a cautious person to believe that the accused is guilty of the offense with which he or she is charged.*

“It is very disappointing that to date, we have received no reply from the Attorney General and that his office has not taken any legal action against Dr. Tiller.  If serious crimes are to be ignored, Kansas will soon become a lawless society,” said Dahl.  “To dispel the growing perception that the chief law enforcement officer of the State of Kansas is ignoring the obvious criminal activity in the case of Dr. George Tiller and so that the interests of justice may be served, the Attorney General must ensure that charges against Dr. Tiller are heard by a jury.”

The letter sent to Attorney General Morrison was signed by Dahl, Speaker Melvin Neufeld (R-Ingalls) and Majority Leader Ray Merrick (R-Stilwell).

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*State v. Bockert, 257 Kan. 488