TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A judge has temporarily blocked the University of Kansas from releasing emails and other documents to a group seeking to explore potential ties between a research center and the billionaire Koch brothers.

Douglas County District Judge Robert Fairchild issued an order Thursday after Art Hall, executive director of the Center for Applied Economics filed a lawsuit against the university.

Hall seeks to block the university from releasing emails and other documents to Students for a Sustainable Future.

The group says it wants to examine the relationship between Hall, the center and businessmen and conservative political donors Charles and David Koch.

Hall said he’s attempting to protect academic freedom.

Vice Chancellor Tim Caboni said the university was being careful in what it released while complying with the Kansas Open Records Act.

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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The leader of a privately funded economics research center at the University of Kansas is suing the university to prevent it from releasing his emails and other documents.

Art Hall, executive director of the Center for Applied Economics, filed a lawsuit Thursday in Douglas County District Court. The lawsuit said the university informed Hall this week that on Friday it would release emails and other document he’s produced over the past 10 years.

The records were sought by the president of a group calling itself Students for a Sustainable Future. The group says it wants to examine the relationship between Hall, the center and billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch.

Hall said he’s acting to protect academic freedom. A university spokeswoman did not immediately return a telephone message seeking comment.