Abortion Opponent Seeks To Shield Jail Visits

By ROXANA HEGEMAN ~ Associated Press

WICHITA (AP) – An anti-abortion activist accused of sending a threatening letter to a Wichita doctor training to offer abortions wants a federal court to forbid the government from prying into her jailhouse ministry with the convicted murderer of Dr. George Tiller.

Angel Dillard argues in a court filing Wednesday that the information sought by the government about her inmate counseling is protected by ministerial privilege and the First Amendment. She is seeking a protective order barring disclosure of the information.

Her attorney argues a dangerous precedent would be set if the Justice Department can conduct wholesale inquiry into such counseling under the guise of trial preparation in a civil case.

The government argues the in jail logs, Dillard described visits to convicted murder Scott Roeder as those of a friend, not minister.