Olathe ? Eight former employees of the Johnson County district attorney’s office filed suit Tuesday against District Attorney Phill Kline, claiming he didn’t have the right to fire them or refuse to participate in a county grievance hearing over their removal.

A district judge approved a temporary restraining order, putting Kline’s decision to fire the seven assistant district attorneys and a chief investigator on hold, pending a Jan. 23 hearing.

Judge Kevin Moriarty’s decision also ordered Kline to participate in and abide by the decision of a county grievance hearing, but said that process wouldn’t start until after the court hearing.

Kline spokesman Bob Murray declined to comment, citing a court order that attorneys on both sides not to talk to reporters.

Attorney Joe Colantuono, who is representing the eight employees, also declined comment, citing the gag order.

The eight workers lost their jobs Jan. 8 after Kline took office as the replacement for Paul Morrison, who ousted Kline as Kansas attorney general in the November election.

In a news conference last week, Colantuono said the employees were dismissed without warning or explanation, which he said was a violation of the state’s policy covering public employees. He said the move threatened to cause a major disruption in the county’s criminal justice system because the attorneys had to leave several cases hanging.