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…

[Photo of Kline at a previous hearing via The Wichita Eagle]