profile on Liberty University law professor
To give you a sense of how varied my beat is, here’s a profile on an LU law professor who is subpoened to testify in the high-profile murder case of the Kansas abortion doctor, Dr. George Tiller.
Abortion doctor’s slaying forces visiting Liberty professor back into spotlight
Before launching into the day’s lesson, Phillip Kline — a visiting professor at Liberty University’s law school — paced in front of his Evidence class, quoting Luke 19:38 from the first slide of his PowerPoint presentation.
“Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest …”
Kline called upon his students to use their Christian faith to guide them to a higher truth, God’s truth, in their journey as lawyers. Then, head bowed, he led them in prayer.
For Kline, the former Kansas Attorney General, the classroom is a haven from a career that thrust him into the national spotlight for his investigations of the late Dr. George Tiller, a Kansas-based doctor who specialized in late-term abortions.
“Political discourse, it’s all attack, it’s all trivial, it’s all tangential to what’s really happening,” he said.
“I love the honesty of a classroom.”
Earlier this month, Kline was subpoenaed to testify by defense attorneys in the trial of Scott Roeder, the anti-abortion activist accused of murdering Tiller last May. The trial began last week, and Kline said Wednesday his court date was still up in the air.
The case sparked national controversy following the judge’s decision to allow Roeder to build his defense around the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter on the grounds that he sincerely believed killing Tiller would save unborn children.
Kline condemns the murder but said he would not provide additional comment until after his testimony.
“My faith teaches me that we’re not to take a life from another, we’re to lay down a life for another. There’s a profound difference.”
Kline made headlines once again when an ethics complaint was released last week that accused him of making false statements and allowing subordinates to mislead other officials while investigating abortion providers, according to the Associated Press.
A public hearing is set for May, and the Kansas Supreme Court will make the final decision on any sanctions, such as censure or the loss of his law license.
The complaint will not affect Kline’s status at Liberty, said LU School of Law Dean Mat Staver.
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