Today, Kansas Attorney General Paul Morrison called for an independent investigation of allegations against him in the recently disclosed sex scandal.  According to the Kansas City Star, Morrison said he would ask Stanton Hazlett, Office of the Disciplinary Administrator, for an independent investigation of allegations of professional misconduct.  The Star points out a problem with such an investigation:

A spokesman for Kline indicated that Hazlett’s office might already be investigating the scandal.

“The disciplinary administrator has already been informed of these allegations and the attorney general likely knows this,” Kline spokesman Brian Burgess said in a prepared statement. “Furthermore, the disciplinary administrator does not have criminal or civil jurisdiction.”   ...

Lawmakers welcomed the investigation, though some questioned whether the administrator could answer every question about Morrison’s conduct. The administrator typically does not handle criminal allegations, and his investigation probably won’t touch on allegations of harassment.

But can the Kansas Board of Disciplinary Administrator, a group that reviews complaints of misconduct against lawyers, operate without an air of partisanship when the majority of Board members have contributed to either Attorney General Paul Morrison, or Governor Kathleen Sebelius, in their political elections?  Show below are the known political contributions to either Attorney General or Gubernatorial candidates (contributions to state legislators are not included):

Kansas Board for Discipline of Attorneys
Sara S. Beezley, Chairman,  $100 to Morrison, 12/12/2005
Robert I. Guenthner, Vice Chairman,  $100 to Sebelius 8/25/2005

• J. Nick Badgerow,  $1000 to Morrison, 11/11/2005, Morrison's attorney in EEOC case
• John D. Gatz, no known contributions
• John D. Conderman, $100 to Morrison, 3/1/2006
• Dennis D. Depew,  Depew Law Firm gave $1000 to Morrison on 10/31/2005; $100 to Sebelius on 8/1/2006, and $50 more on 8/18/2006
• Randall D. Grisell, no known contributions
• Debra E. James, Need to verify:  $100 to Sebelius on 12/31/2001
• Warren McCamish, Jr., no known contributions
• Arthur E. Palmer, Need to verify:  possible very old contributions to Sebelius in 1997, 1998
• Philip D. Ridenour, no known contributions
• Anne L. Baker, $100 to Sebelius in 1998, and $200 to Sebelius in 2002
• Jo Ann Butaud, $125 to Graves in 1997
• Patricia M. Dengler, $250 to Chris Biggs, 10/23/2002; $550 to Morrison (three dates), $1550 to Sebelius (four dates)
• Ruth E. Graham, $50 to Sebelius, 11/1/2006
• Sally H. Harris [cannot ID]
• Calvin J. Karlin, $50 to Morrison on 12/9/2005 and $50 more on 2/8/2006; $400 to Sebelius in 2002-2003 (three dates)
• Jack S. McInteer, $250 to Sebelius, 7/8/2002
• Andrew R. Ramirez, $50 to Stovall, 10/2/1995
• Rex A. Sharp, no known contributions

Office of the Disciplinary Administrator:
Stanton A. Hazlett, Disciplinary Administrator, no known contributions
Frank D. Diehl, Deputy Disciplinary Administrator, no known contributions
Alexander M. Walczak, Deputy Disciplinary Administrator, $100 to Stovall, 7/2/1998
Janith A. Davis, Deputy Disciplinary Administrator, no known contributions
Gayle B. Larkin, Admissions Attorney, no known contributions
Gary H. Pettijohn, Disciplinary Investigator, wife, Ethel, gave Morrison $100 on 3/5/2006 and $100 on 7/7/2006
Terry L. Morgan, Disciplinary Investigator, no known contributions

If the Board must vote on any issue related to Paul Morrison, how many Board members should recuse themselves?  

Related:

• Sex scandal rocks A.G.:  Affair with former employee in DA's office results in federal complaint, Topeka Capital-Journal, Dec 9, 2007.

• Morrison asks for independent investigation of allegations in sex scandal, Kansas City Star, Dec 11, 2007.

• Mike Hendricks Commentary:  Don’t try to hang in there, Paul; Kansas needs a new attorney general, Kansas City Star, Dec 11, 2007.

• Morrison asks state to investigate him, Topeka Capital-Journal, Dec 12, 2007.