Restrictionist Law Prof in it for the Bucks?

Law Prof Kris Kobach (University of Missouri-Kansas City) worked with Hazleton, PA to craft and defend the anti-immigrant ordinance that was struck down last week by a federal judge.  In recent days, he has been seen on television, as well as quoted in the newspapers, railing about about how an “activist” judge thwarted Hazleton’s efforts (some would just say that the judge was doing his job and faithfully applying the law).

I always figured that Kobach was readying himself for his next political campaign.    He currently serves as the chairman of the Kansas Republican Party, and in 2004, he ran as the Republican Party candidate for Congress in Kansas. The Pitch reports, however, that

“Thus far, [Kobach’s] losing effort [for Hazleton] has been pretty lucrative. Last summer, Hazleton supporters created the “Small Town Defenders” fund, an online effort to raise money from citizens around the country to pay for the city’s defense. Since then, the fund has garnered plenty of media attention (Kobach has even promoted the effort on his Sunday-evening talk show on KMBZ 980) and raised approximately $300,000.

According to a story published today by the Wilkes Barre Times-Leader newspaper, Kobach has received a big chunk of the legal-fund cash. The Times-Leader reports that the Kansas lawyer has been paid $115,210 for his services.

KJ