Judge blocks University of Kansas from releasing records to group examining Koch brothers

A judge has temporarily blocked the University of Kansas from releasing e-mails 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 e-mails 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.

This story was originally published December 4, 2014 at 4:57 PM with the headline "Judge blocks University of Kansas from releasing records to group examining Koch brothers."