AP reports on a case that is disturbing on several levels. The political/religious nature of the petition-driven convening of this grand jury is front and center, yet the legal standing doesn’t appear to be in question.
Moreover, this attempt comes on the heels of an unsuccessful previous attempt at using the same grand jury tactic that failed to result in any indictments. Just keep trying until you can get one to stick, eh?
Kansas is one of the few states where citizens can petition to impanel a grand jury. Anti-abortion groups collected nearly 7,900 signatures, more than three times the number required, to force Sedgwick County to create a grand jury to consider whether Dr. George Tiller violated a 1998 state law restricting late-term abortions.
Tiller denies the allegations and wants the Kansas Supreme Court to prevent the panel from convening. The grand jury is scheduled to meet Tuesday.
“This is a proceeding brought for harassment and in bad faith by the petition gatherers,” Tiller attorney Lee Thompson said Wednesday. “You approach the level of vigilantism, and I think we see that happening in this instance.”
