TOPEKA ? Three Kansas media organizations have dropped a lawsuit against Gov. Sam Brownback over his office’s refusal to release records related to a state magistrate judge’s appointment.

The Associated Press, Hutchinson News and Kansas Press Association last week submitted an agreement with Brownback’s office to dismiss the case in Shawnee County District Court. Judge Larry Hendricks approved it.

The organizations sued in 2015 to obtain documents from applicants for a Reno County magistrate judge’s position. Brownback’s office argued they were personnel records exempt from disclosure under the Kansas Open Records Act.

Hendricks put the case on hold in 2016 while the Kansas Court of Appeals reviewed another lawsuit over the same issue in the appointment of two Saline County commissioners in 2014. The appeals court ruled against the AP and Salina Journal in that case.