Dahl joins House leaders in letter to AG about Tiller

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Wednesday, 28 March 2007 05:58

Kansas House of Representatives Speaker Pro Tem Don Dahl (R-Hillsboro) released a letter Friday that was sent to Attorney General Paul Morrison earlier this week.

The letter asked the attorney general to act to ensure charges filed by previous Attorney General Phill Kline against physician George Tiller are heard by a jury.

“Members of the Kansas Legislature have been inundated with telephone calls, petitions, letters and e-mails from Kansans across the state, asking that we direct the attorney general to proceed with the criminal case against Dr. Tiller,” Dahl said.

“I am very disappointed in the lack of action by the state’s chief law enforcement officer regarding the issues addressed in our letter.”

Dahl stated 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 Tiller.

In State v. Bockert, a probable cause determination is defined as “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,” Dahl said.

“If serious crimes are to be ignored, Kansas will soon become a lawless society.

“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 Morrison also was signed by Dahl, Speaker Melvin Neufeld (R-Ingalls) and Majority Leader Ray Merrick (R-Stilwell).