MISSION ? Johnson County District Attorney Phill Kline may be getting out of politics, at least as an elected official.

Kline, who was appointed to the position after losing reelection as Kansas Attorney General last year, said during a town hall meeting Saturday that he doubted he’d run for the district attorney office in 2008.

“I think I’ll probably get out of elective office and get involved in advocacy on issues and on the law,” he told about 80 people.

For about two hours, Kline discussed a wide range of topics, including his plans to crack down on illegal immigrants and his fight with Wichita abortion provider George Tiller.

On his office staff, Kline said four prosecutors are either already special assistant U.S. attorneys, certified to try cases in federal court, or are becoming certified. He said this will allow his office to file some cases in federal court, where the punishment may be harsher.

He briefly discussed the eight staff members he fired when he joined the office, saying he interviewed the seven assistant district attorneys and his transition team interviewed the chief investigator.

When an audience member said the investigator had not been interviewed before being fired, Kline declined to comment further.

“As you know, those individuals have sued me personally,” he said. “They have sued me in my official capacity. I can’t get into some of this. Fine question, but they’re asking for those answers in a court of law.”

As part of their lawsuit against Kline, the eight filed documents with the court earlier this month saying a county review panel had agreed their firings were improper.