Kansas attorney general pays outside attorneys $1.03 million to defend anti-abortion laws

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt’s office says it has paid outside attorneys more than $1 million to defend anti-abortion laws enacted in recent years.

The attorney general’s office reported Thursday that it has paid more than $612,000 to the Lawrence firm of Thompson, Ramsdell & Qualseth for fees and expenses in handling multiple federal and state lawsuits.

Abortion providers have sued the state over special regulations adopted in 2011 and a 2013 law requiring them to post certain material on their websites and provide the information to women before abortions.

Schmidt’s office also has paid more than $418,000 to the Wichita firm of Foulston Siefken to defend a measure keeping federal dollars for non-abortion services from flowing to Planned Parenthood.

This story was originally published March 13, 2014 at 9:52 PM with the headline "Kansas attorney general pays outside attorneys $1.03 million to defend anti-abortion laws."