TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A judge has temporarily blocked the University of Kansas from releasing emails and other documents to a group looking for ties between a research center and the billionaire Koch brothers.

Douglas County District Judge Robert Fairchild issued an order Thursday after Art Hall, executive director of the Center for Applied Economics, sued the university.

Hall seeks to block the release of emails and other documents to a student group concerned about a relationship between Hall, the center and Charles and David Koch.

Hall said he’s trying to protect academic freedom.

Vice Chancellor Tim Caboni says KU was being careful in what it released while complying with the Kansas Open Records Act.

A Koch family foundation is a donor and a spokesman said its role is only financial support.

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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The leader of a privately funded economics research center at the University of Kansas is suing the university to prevent it from releasing his emails and other documents.

Art Hall, executive director of the Center for Applied Economics, filed a lawsuit Thursday in Douglas County District Court. The lawsuit said the university informed Hall this week that on Friday it would release emails and other document he’s produced over the past 10 years.

The records were sought by the president of a group calling itself Students for a Sustainable Future. The group says it wants to examine the relationship between Hall, the center and billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch.

Hall said he’s acting to protect academic freedom. A university spokeswoman did not immediately return a telephone message seeking comment.