Opinion ID: 2627231
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Other Appropriate Relief

Text: The record before us demonstrates that Kline and his subordinates did not merely take copies of patient records and some or all of the work product they generated in the inquisition while Kline held the position of Attorney General. They took all copies of the patient records and certain other materials as well. Even if the unique circumstances of this case compel us to conclude that Kline was not prevented by law from moving the patient records to the Johnson County District Attorney's office, that does not mean he was entitled to ensure that no coherent copies of these records or of other investigation materials were left behind. Indeed, we cannot condone his effort to stand in the way of his successor doing his job. As referenced briefly above, the patient records at the heart of this case and any and all other inquisition materials gathered or generated by Kline and/or his subordinates during the time he was Attorney General were gathered or generated through expenditure of state taxpayer dollars that flowed into the Attorney General's budget for salaries and expenses. The state's taxpayers, in the person of the current Attorney General, are entitled to a full, complete, and understandable set of those materials. We therefore hereby order the following relief: Kline shall produce and hand deliver to the Attorney General's office no later than 5 p.m. on December 12, 2008, a full, complete, and understandable set of the patient records and any and all other materials gathered or generated by Kline and/or his subordinates in their abortion-related inquisition while Kline was Attorney General. Neither Kline nor any of his subordinates or lawyers may make any exceptions whatsoever for an reason or on any rationale to the foregoing order. Full, complete, and understandable means exactly what it says. This set of materials shall be organized and labeled exactly as organized and labeled in the files or repositories maintained by and/or for Kline and his subordinates in the discharge of their duties on behalf of the Johnson County District Attorney's office. The cost of the production and delivery of the set of materials described in this paragraph shall be borne by the Johnson County District Attorney's office.