TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt’s office says it has paid outside attorneys nearly $1.2 million to defend anti-abortion laws enacted since January 2011.
Schmidt’s office reported Monday that it has paid almost $770,000 to the Lawrence firm of Thompson, Ramsdell & Qualseth for fees and expenses in handling multiple federal and state lawsuits.
The state successfully defended a 2013 law requiring abortion providers to post certain material on their websites for women seeking abortions and another statute restricting private health insurance coverage of abortions.
A state-court lawsuit is still pending against special regulations for providers enacted in 2011.
Schmidt’s office also has paid more than $425,000 to the Wichita firm of Foulston Siefken to successfully defend a measure keeping federal dollars for non-abortion services from flowing to Planned Parenthood.