Overview
- Gov. Laura Kelly filed a quo warranto action asking the Kansas Supreme Court to declare that she may sue, join, and direct litigation on behalf of the state.
- Attorney General Kris Kobach rejects that position, asserting state law gives his office exclusive authority to represent Kansas in court.
- Kelly cites urgent need to pursue federal relief for food assistance, with about 188,000 Kansans facing loss of November SNAP benefits during the shutdown.
- Her office has moved to participate in Democratic-led cases, including a Massachusetts lawsuit seeking USDA contingency funds and a New Jersey case over grant cuts.
- The petition also underscores earlier clashes over funding suits and a dismissed state case over SNAP data, and it asks the high court for expedited review.