Planned Parenthood, which was the target of an investigation into abortion records by former attorney general Phill Kline, and then cleared by Kline’s replacement, is seeking a court order against Kline.

Comprehensive Health of Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri Inc. filed the action last month before the Kansas Supreme Court. The court immediately ordered that the case would “proceed under seal.”

The request by the clinic is related to the lengthy battle with Kline over medical records, said Peter Brownlie, president and chief executive officer of Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri, which is located in Overland Park.

“I can’t go beyond that,” Brownlie said.

Kline declined to comment.

Ron Keefover, a spokesman for the Kansas Supreme Court, said keeping the proceedings of the case under wraps was unusual “but can be done.”

In 2004, a Shawnee County judge, at Kline’s request, subpoenaed the medical records of 90 patients at the Planned Parenthood clinic and another one operated by Dr. George Tiller of Wichita.

Kline said he was investigating allegations of illegal late term abortions and child rape. The clinics denied any wrongdoing, saying that Kline, an ardent opponent of abortion, was on a political fishing expedition.

During the 2006 campaign, Democrat Paul Morrison defeated Kline in a landslide. Before he left office, however, Kline filed 30 misdemeanor charges against Tiller, alleging Tiller had performed illegal late-term abortions. Those charges were dismissed on jurisdictional grounds.

When Morrison took office, he started his own investigation. Last week, he cleared Planned Parenthood of any wrongdoing. In his letter, Morrison informed the clinic that Kline had copies of edited medical records from the clinic.

He also charged Tiller on 19 counts of violating the state’s late-term abortion law, alleging that Tiller had a financial relationship with the consulting doctor required to sign off on the procedure. Tiller has denied the allegations.

Since taking office, Morrison has complained that records in the case were scattered in several places. He also accused Kline, who has since become the Johnson County district attorney, of unethical conduct in the investigation, a claim that Kline denies.