The Baltimore Sun has an excellent summary of the long and twisted history of late-term abortionist George Tiller and the events leading up to his criminal trial tomorrow.

[A Kansas] law states that any physician who performs an abortion at or after 22 weeks’ gestation must determine whether the fetus is viable; that is, whether it could survive outside the womb. If the fetus is determined to be viable, then two doctors must certify that continuing the pregnancy might kill the mother or cause “substantial and irreversible” harm to a “major bodily function.” The two doctors must have no financial or legal relationship, the law states.

Although neither side will discuss the evidence, the state is expected to contend that Tiller’s relationship with Ann Kristin Neuhaus, the second doctor who signed off on the 19 abortions in question, violated the physician independence provision. Each count carries a maximum penalty of as long as a year in prison and a $2,500 fine.

To be sure, Tiller has been accused of much, much more.  But this is a start.  It would be wonderful if Tiller were actually incarcerated and his clinic shut down.  But short of that, I suppose even the minutest of punishments would at least be a step forward.  It would send the message that abortion restrictions are to be taken seriously and will be enforced.

Problem is, the current Attorney General of Kansas is a pro-choice Democrat.

The Democrat whom Sebelius appointed to replace Morrison as attorney general, Steve Six, inherited the Tiller prosecution.

“The attorney general’s office is not very excited about this case,” said Joseph Aistrup, a political science professor at Kansas State University.

“If Tiller is convicted and it does lead to his clinic being shut down, the ironic twist is almost overwhelming. It would be a pro-choice attorney general that shut him down.”

This makes me nervous.  Despite the Kansas Rules of Professional Conduct, which require attorneys to represent the interests of their clients with the utmost competence and zeal, the prosecuting attorney could very well put on an apathetic case, resulting in an acquittal on the merits for Tiller.  This would set the pro-life cause back substantially.  Finally Tiller is brought to trial and evidence presented against him, only to be found innocent in the end.  The result?  The years-long effort to bring Tiller down would likely be seen as one big witch hunt.  And the public’s taste might be preemptively soured the next time there is a cry for another scofflaw abortionist to be brought to justice, no matter how strong the evidence against him.

Let’s hope justice is done.