LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A judge has denied a University of Kansas student’s request to have records from a research center subject to open records laws.

A student group is seeking the release of hundreds of pages of emails and other documents to determine what ties exist between Art Hall, executive director of an economic research center, and billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports  that Douglas County Judge James McCabria on Tuesday denied student Schuyler Kraus’ request to deem those records subject to the Kansas Open Records Act, which would allow the university to release them.

McCabria says more evidence is needed to resolve disputed facts, including whether Hall’s a public employee.

Hall’s lawyer says his client’s a private individual and that needs “further exploration” in a trial setting.