Kansas grand jury to investigate alleged late-term abortionist

Nov 30, 2007 / 12:42 pm

A Kansas Supreme Court justice has ruled that the grand jury examining the case of a late-term abortionist can move forward with its investigation.

Abortionist George R. Tiller is being investigated for allegedly conducting illegal late-term abortions over the past four years.  He already faces 19 criminal charges for violating a Kansas statute that bans abortions on viable babies after 22 weeks' gestation.

Tiller had filed a Writ of Mandamus asking for an exemption from the laws governing the convening of citizen-called grand jury investigations and demanding that the grand jury not be seated.

Kansas Supreme Court Justice Kay McFarland denied the request in a Thursday decision.

The Kansas City Star is reporting that Planned Parenthood has dropped its plans to file a Mandamus action with the Kansas Supreme Court to block the grand jury after learning about yesterday’s ruling.

"We are very happy that the Kansas Supreme Court has ruled to follow the law and allow the grand jury to move forward,' said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. "This is a victory for the rule of law, for the people of Kansas, and for the late-term pre-born babies that laws have been enacted to protect. As the grand jury investigation of Tiller moves forward, we pray for justice to be done."