12:30p: LifeSiteNews.com (@LifeSite on Twitter) is also reporting Phill Kline’s trial live. Reporter Peter Smith just filed his report for Day 1. An excerpt:

… Stan Hazlett… explained that they would be dropping the charge that Phill Kline’s position on abortion caused him to be prejudicial to the administration of justice. Prosecutors will still argue, however, that Kline’s attitude was prejudicial on other counts.

During his opening statement, Kline’s attorney, Reid Holbrook, made repeated references to the complaint filed by Hazlett, which showed substantial similarities and even occasional word-for-word identity with a complaint filed by Dan Monnat, the attorney for slain late-term abortionist George Tiller, who was also subject to investigation by Kline’s office. [JLS note: See slides below.]

Holbrook also reminded the panel of 3 judges that they will also be fact-finders in the case and that they will have an opportunity to see the evidence for themselves….

11:03a: The ethics trial to disbar former Kansas Attorney General and Johnson Co. District Attorney Phill Kline has begun. Operation Rescue’s Cheryl Sullenger actually got into the courtroom (only 16 seats) and is live-tweeting from there. NRO’s Kathryn Lopez has written a must read overview of the corrupt politics involved in this witch hunt.

The other side’s point man, KS Supreme Court’s appointed Disciplinary Administrator Stanton Hazlett, is not very original.

In the formal ethics complaint he filed against Kline in January 2010, Hazlett basically plagiarized Wichita late-term abortionist George Tiller’s 2008 motion to dismiss Kline’s case against him.

In other words, Hazlett is bringing the same charges against Kline as the man who Kline was prosecuting for committing illegal late-term abortions. Suspicious much?

Hazlett’s bias is obvious, and his bootlegged complaint is no more original than a 7th grader’s.

But most importantly, a judge summarily dismissed Tiller’s motion in February 2009! Futhermore, don’t forget an exhaustive independent report – commissioned by Hazlett – also cleared Kline of ethics complaints back in 2008.

Following are powerpoint slides Kline will have entered into evidence today. The top quote on each slide is from Tiller’s 2008 motion to dismiss and the bottom quote is from Hazlett’s 2010 formal complaint against Kline. Click all to enlarge…