Topeka ? A Topeka man accused of practicing law without a license began serving time in jail Thursday on an unusual contempt citation from the Kansas Supreme Court. His wife called him “a political prisoner.”

The state’s highest court had ordered David Martin Price to serve an indefinite sentence. But a federal judge is reviewing his case, and Price hopes to be released after five days.

The Kansas attorney general’s office has tried for more than three years to prevent Price from providing legal advice to others, but he contends he’s broken no laws. The Supreme Court also had Price arrested after he didn’t show up for a July 20 hearing.

Judicial branch officials can’t recall another case of the Supreme Court having someone arrested, or jailed for contempt. A 1989 case is believed to be the last one before the high court involving someone accused of illegally practicing law.

Price, 47, had been free on $5,000 bond. He arrived at the Shawnee County jail with his wife about 10 minutes before the Supreme Court’s deadline. She snapped pictures; he kissed her and said, “See you in about a week.”

“This is a clear case of my husband, David Price, being a political prisoner of the attorney general’s office and the Kansas Supreme Court,” Rosemary Price said afterward. “David is essentially being given a life sentence in jail.”

The attorney general’s office declined to comment.

Price has acted as his own attorney in federal cases, and he’s representing himself before the Kansas Supreme Court. His right to do so isn’t being questioned; the issue is whether he’s providing legal services for others.

The Supreme Court cited Price for contempt Tuesday for missing the July 20 hearing and for violating a December 2007 order not to provide legal advice to others. The high court said he would not be released from jail until he signed a written agreement not to practice law.

“That’s extortion, racketeering and coercion,” Price said Wednesday, after he filed a petition in U.S. District Court in Topeka to overturn his jail sentence.

U.S. District Court Judge Sam Crow ruled late Wednesday that Price must serve at least five days for missing the July 20 hearing. Crow also ordered the attorney general’s office to explain in writing by Monday why Price shouldn’t be released afterward.