Kobach will represent himself in upcoming trial. Is it a smart move? [View all]

When a federal lawsuit challenging Kansas’s proof of citizenship voter law goes to trial in March, Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach plans to be in the courtroom.

He’ll be the attorney defending the law he crafted.

Rarely, if ever, do statewide elected officials represent themselves at trial.

The unusual situation is made possible by Attorney General Derek Schmidt.

Kobach, who is being sued in his official capacity as secretary of state, received permission from Schmidt to represent himself at the trial-court level in the lawsuit after he agreed that the secretary of state’s office will pay for all costs of the case, Schmidt’s office said.

Read more: http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article198143494.html