Phill Kline
American politician / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Phillip D. Kline (born December 31, 1959) is a former American attorney who served as a Kansas state legislator, district attorney of Johnson County, and Kansas Attorney General. Kline, a member of the Republican Party, lost re-election as attorney general to Democratic challenger Paul J. Morrison in 2006.[1] Kline was appointed by the Republican County Central Committee to fill the vacancy left by Morrison's election as Kansas Attorney General, becoming district attorney of Johnson County on the day he left office as attorney general and essentially switching jobs with Morrison. Kline then ran for a full term as district attorney, but was defeated in the 2008 Republican primary.[2]
Phill Kline | |
---|---|
District Attorney of Johnson County, Kansas | |
In office January 2007 – January 2009 | |
Preceded by | Paul J. Morrison |
Succeeded by | Steve Howe |
41st Attorney General of Kansas | |
In office January 6, 2003 – January 8, 2007 | |
Governor | Bill Graves Kathleen Sebelius |
Preceded by | Carla Stovall |
Succeeded by | Paul J. Morrison |
Member of the Kansas House of Representatives from the 18th district | |
In office January 11, 1993 – January 8, 2001 | |
Preceded by | Eugene Amos |
Succeeded by | Mary Pilcher-Cook |
Personal details | |
Born | (1959-12-31) December 31, 1959 (age 64) Kansas City, Kansas, U.S. |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | Deborah Kline |
Profession | Attorney (license indefinitely suspended) |
Kline was a polarizing figure in state politics, largely surrounding his use of his office to investigate abortion providers.[3] He filed charges against George Tiller, a late-term abortion provider, and led a years-long effort to prosecute Planned Parenthood in Kansas.[3] Kline received a series of official rebukes and reprimands for his legal tactics against abortion providers, and in 2013, his law license was indefinitely suspended by the Kansas Supreme Court, which found "clear and convincing evidence" that Kline committed numerous violations of conduct rules, which included providing false testimony.[4][5] Kline appealed his license suspension to the U.S. Supreme Court, which declined to intervene, leaving the suspension in place.[6] Kline is currently an assistant professor at Liberty University, an evangelical Christian college in Lynchburg, Virginia.