Paul J. Morrison

Infobox_Politician
name= Paul J. Morrison

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caption=
office= Kansas Attorney General
term_start=January 8, 2007
term_end=January 31, 2008
predecessor= Phill Kline
successor= Stephen Six
birth_date= Birth date and age|1954|6|1|mf=y [cite news | work = Lawrence Journal-World | url = http://www2.ljworld.com/elections/2006/nov/07/candidates/morrison/ |title = Paul Morrison Bio | accessdate = 2007-01-08 ]
birth_place= Dodge City, Kansas
death_date=
death_place=
spouse= Joyce Morrison
profession= Attorney
party= Democratic
religion= Roman Catholic
footnotes=

Paul J. Morrison (born 1954) is a lawyer and a former Attorney General of Kansas. Morrison attended Washburn University and Washburn School of Law, graduating in 1980. While at Washburn, he was a member of the Kansas Beta Chapter of Phi Delta Theta. Morrison was sworn in as the 42nd Kansas Attorney General following a twenty-six year career in law enforcement. [cite news | work = Topeka Capital-Journal | url = http://www.cjonline.com/stories/102206/leg_morrison.shtml | title = Morrison points to long law career | date = 2006-10-22 accessdate = 2007-10-23] He previously served as the District Attorney for Johnson County, Kansas from 1990 until January, 2007. In 2005, Morrison switched from the Republican to the Democratic and announced he would challenge Republican Phill Kline in 2006 for Attorney General. On November 7, 2006, Morrison defeated Kline with 58% of the vote. [cite news | work = Lawrence Journal-World | url = http://www2.ljworld.com/news/politics/elections/2006/kansas/ag/ | title = Race for Attorney General | accessdate = 2007-01-08 ] Morrison took office on January 8, 2007. [cite news | work = The Kansas City Star | url = http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/16411220.htm | title = Kline, Morrison sworn in | date = 2007-01-08 accessdate = 2007-01-08 ] Kline succeeded Morrison as Johnson County District Attorney. On December 14, 2007, in the midst of a scandal involving a former employee while he was Johnson County District Attorney, Morrison announced his resignation effective January 31, 2008.

During his term, Attorney General Paul Morrison made domestic violence, [cite news | work = The Wichita Eagle | url = http://www.kansas.com/205/story/204358.html | title = Paul Morrison: Rate of women killed by men in state is disturbing | date = 2007-10-19 accessdate = 2007-10-23] victim services and cyber crime [cite news | work = The Lawrence Journal-World | url = http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2007/sep/27/crime_prevention/ | title = Crime Prevention | date = 2007-09-27 accessdate = 2007-10-23] a priority, re-organizing the office and providing new resources to fight these important crimes. A career prosecutor, Morrison has personally argued nearly 100 jury trials including the complex murder cases of notorious serial killers Richard Grissom and John E. Robinson. Morrison continued to personally prosecute cases as Kansas Attorney General.

Morrison is a recipient of the Clarence M. Kelly Award for Excellence in Criminal Justice Administration. The Kansas County and District Attorneys Association honored him with "Prosecutor of the Year" award in 2001 and the "Lifetime Achievement Award" in 2007.

Controversy

In December 2007 allegations surfaced that Morrison had an affair with an office administrator, Linda Carter, in the district attorney's office that continued after he was elected Attorney General. Carter filed a sexual harassment claim with the EEOC alleging that Morrison pressured her to obtain sensitive information about Kline and several pending investigations at the district attorney's office. Morrison admitted to the infidelity, but denies any impropriety, sexual harassment, pressure to obtain sensitive information, or influence the course of an investigation. ["Sex scandal rocks A.G." "Topeka Capital-Journal" http://cjonline.com/stories/120907/sta_224057474.shtml]

Morrison announced his resignation on Dec 14th, stating that his tenure would end on January 31, 2008 ["Morrison Resigns" http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2007/dec/14/morrison_resigns/?breaking] On that date, Morisson was succeeded as Attorney General by Douglas County District Court Judge Stephen Six. [http://www.kansas.com/news/updates/story/285176.html]

Paul Morrison Private Practice

Paul Morrison is currently practicing law in Olathe, KS. [ Paul Morrison Law Office-http://www.paulmorrisonlaw.com/]

References