‘Kris Kobach is not a good attorney’: Kansas attorney group announces support for Chris Mann

TOPEKA —  Dozens of Kansas attorneys announced their support of attorney general candidate Chris Mann Thursday, saying they wanted a competent person in the office. 

The group, which launched under the name “Kansas Attorneys for Mann,” is made up of more than 140 Republican, Democratic and Independent attorneys across the state.

“The group’s main focus is an issue that so far has not received enough attention in the campaign, which is, setting aside his policies and positions, Kris Kobach is not a good attorney,” the press release said, citing Kobach’s 2018 voting rights trial. 

During Kobach’s time as Kansas secretary of state from 2011 to 2019, he pushed a law requiring residents to prove their citizenship before registering to vote. The law prevented 35,000 eligible voters from participating in elections and was declared unconstitutional after a five-year legal battle with the American Civil Liberties Union and other attorneys. 

The Kansas Attorney General’s Office had to pay $1.9 million in fees and expenses. Kobach was ordered by a federal judge to take six hours of remedial law class after the trial. 

“The Kansas attorneys have witnessed Kobach’s many other legal failures over the years, including his failed efforts to draft statutes and ordinances for cities across the country, many of which were challenged in court and found to be unconstitutional,” the press release said. 

The Kansas attorney general position is the top law enforcement officer in the state and provides legal services to state agencies and boards, issues opinions, protects consumers, and defends the state in civil proceedings. 

Kansas Attorneys for Mann said candidate Chris Mann was the obvious choice. Mann is a Lawrence attorney and former police officer.