Topeka ? The Kansas Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected a request from 14 news organizations to grant early consideration of an open meetings lawsuit against Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.

In a one-sentence order, the court refused to take the case directly from Shawnee County District Court. The case is pending before the Kansas Court of Appeals, which typically takes about 18 months to rule.

A Shawnee County judge ruled Jan. 6 that five government review teams appointed by Sebelius after her November election did not have to conduct open meetings before the governor’s Jan. 13 inauguration.

The teams conducted 18 closed meetings in November and December, during Sebelius’ transition period, to study how to make government more efficient. The teams became subject to the Kansas Open Meetings Act only when Sebelius took office, the judge ruled.

The lawsuit was brought by The Associated Press, Kansas Press Assn., Kansas Association of Broadcasters and 11 newspapers, including the Journal-World.

The Supreme Court sometimes removes cases from the Court of Appeals when it appears an appeal is likely no matter how the lower appellate court rules.

Mike Merriam, a Topeka attorney representing the news organizations, said he was disappointed.

Sebelius spokeswoman Nicole Corcoran-Basso said, “It didn’t really change anything for us.”