Topeka, Kan. – The Kansas Supreme Court last Tuesday night canceled arguments from attorneys over a civil rights’ group attempt to force the state to release prison inmates with preexisting medical conditions making them vulnerable to the novel coronavirus.

The high court’s actions came with arguments originally set for Wednesday afternoon in a lawsuit  filed last week by the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas for seven inmates at state prisons in Ellsworth, Lansing and Topeka. A two-page order signed by Justice Marla Luckert sent the case to district court in Leavenworth County, home to the Lansing prison.

Lawyers for the Department of Corrections and Attorney General Derek Schmidt’s office last Tuesday filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, and Luckert’s order said the state’s response showed “there are significant issues of fact” that should be settled in district court.

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly has said efforts are underway to identify inmates who are close to finishing their sentences to be released.

– Associated Press