Supreme Court sets special session to hear arguments in abortion cases

TOPEKA—The Supreme Court today announced it will meet in special session April 8th to hear oral arguments in three cases challenging subpoenas of abortion patient medical records by a Wichita grand jury.

The court scheduled the rare special session to expedite resolution of three challenges of  the subpoenas that were filed by Kansas Attorney Gen. Stephen Six, a Wichita abortion clinic operated by Dr. George R. Tiller, and clinic patients whose records were subpoenaed.

The Court also consolidated all three cases for decision and kept its earlier order blocking enforcement of the subpoenas in place until further order of the Court.  The Wichita judges handling the grand jury proceedings—Chief Judge Michael Corrigan and Senior Judge Paul Buchanan—were directed to refrain from issuing additional patient  records subpoenas generated by the clinic.

Attorneys have been given until 5 p.m. March 17th to file written briefs in the case. The Court limited the briefs to not more than 25 pages in length.  Each side of the consolidated case will be allotted a total of one hour to present their arguments to the Court.  The special session is to begin at 9 a.m. in the Supreme Court Courtroom in the Judicial Center.