Posted on 01/16/2007 11:19:32 AM PST by Huntress
The seven former prosecutors and chief investigator dismissed by District Attorney Phill Kline filed a lawsuit today against Kline in Johnson County District Court.
Kline dismissed the employees on Jan. 8, the same day that he was sworn into office. Two days later, the eight filed grievances with the county requesting reinstatement and back pay. After Kline told county commissioners Friday that he would not participate in hearings on the grievances, county chief counsel Don Jarrett said the hearings would not be held.
In a letter to commissioners Friday, Kline said state statute designates him as an executive officer of the 10th judicial district. Under the statute, the letter states, his office is considered “a separate entity within said district for administrative purposes.” In addition, the letter said, a district attorney is not bound by a county’s personnel policies or rules.
Jarrett said Friday that the next step would be up to the fired employees.
Among the employees is John Fritz, who was in charge of the district attorney’s juvenile division.
Phill Kline ping!
This is a one-time ping to those of you who have posted regarding Phill Kline and/or Paul Morrison on the KS message board. I thought you might find this new development interesting.
I read it in the paper yesterday. Not unexpected that fired RAT lawyers would rush to sue. KS papers will flock to support them.
One of the worst things to happen to our republic is when politicians decided the best way to high office is to become a DA.
These next 2 years under Phill should be interesting to say the least. LOL!
If they sued the district attorney, Jarrett said, the district attorney typically would be represented by the Kansas attorney general.
It was not clear Friday whether that would happen in this case. Paul Morrison was Johnson County’s district attorney until he replaced Kline on Monday as attorney general.
Wouldn't that be a hoot??!! LOL!!
I wonder if the Red Star had an article on the employees Morrison fired from the A-G office?
This is like when President Clinton fired all the federal Prosocutors when he took office.
What Clinton did was legal, but morally questionable.
The question, is what Kline did the same, or is he exceeding his authority?
I really hate frivolous lawsuits, but it would make me laugh if those folks sued Morrison.
The judge who signed the temp restraining order is Kevin Moriarity, not Judge Vano. It's a ssigned to Vano. That means that there was some judge shopping going on. Moriarity is a big Dem and great buddies with these guys. He should have recused himself or at least decline to sign an exparte order. I don't know much about Vano's politics. This whole case should be kicked to another county. It probably will be. I only know Steve Fritz. Did anyone notice that four of the eight are women? Most women lawyers are big pro aborts.
Odds are they're all Republicans. Morrison was a Republican until last year, all these are long term employees, one of them is the guy who was the other choice for the GOP when they selected Kline.
Actually Phill's kind of worked his way down to being DA. He was a state Senator, lost his election for Congress, couldn't get a job in the Ashcroft justice department, barely won election as Attorney General, got creamed in his re-election, and then was appointed DA. Two more years and he won't even have that.
I don't think they have much of a case. They aren't covered by civil service laws, they're basically employ at will. They may have a claim for severance depending on the terms of employment, but I don't think they'll win this.
That might be, but Phill is going to be hounded the next 2 years regardless of what he does.
I bet Steve Rose is eating this up. Can’t wait to see his rag this week.
/sarc
Well you knew that regardless. I have no idea what Phill hoped to accomplish in that office but I doubt he'll have a chance to realize it.
Are you cheering, N-S ?
Not really. I remember when Kline was being touted as the next Republican governor. Nobody deserves to see his career end this way.
I agree. I looked at their petion online, and it's pretty flimsy. It seems to me to be purely political, but I can't quite figure out what most of the ex-ADAs have to gain from this. They could go into private practice and do quite well for themselves. I suppose they're just pawns.
I don't think they're pawns, but I do agree it's political. It's an attempt to keep the matter in the news rather than let it die away. I know a number of JoCo ADAs through a friend of mine and from what I hear they've all got resumes out. Phill's appointment didn't sit well.
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