UPDATE: Kane Promises Email Cooperation With Castille

Attorney General and Chief Justice had been at loggerheads.

AP Photo | Bradley C. Bower

AP Photo | Bradley C. Bower

[Update 9:30 a.m.] AP reports that Kane is making a stronger pledge of cooperation with Castille:

Kane told Castille she will try to give him the emails “if deemed as permissible” and that the issue is under review by her civil division. She said he was concerned there may be a risk to taxpayers because of a potential civil lawsuit.

“I understand that the Court considers this matter to be of utmost importance,” Kane wrote. “Our cooperation will be to the full extent of our abilities. I request your understanding as well with our limited resources. We are doing the best that we can in the shortest amount of time as possible.”

[Original] Attorney General Kathleen Kane is at loggerheads with Pennsylvania Chief Justice Ronald Castille over the racy email scandal that has already claimed the jobs of several top officials in Harrisburg.

Castille wants information about any judges who may have participated in the trading of such emails, but Kane, so far at least, is of little help. The Inquirer reports:

In an e-mail to the Republican justice Thursday, Kane, a Democrat, said her office did not have the time or resources to immediately provide the information Castille sought. She also raised questions about her legal right to do so.

“I understand that the Court considers this matter to be of utmost importance,” she wrote. “Our cooperation will be to the full extent of our abilities.”

The decision did not sit well with Castille, who within hours sent a terse reply. “What I expect is your compliance with this request,” it read in part. “I consider your complaint of lack of resources as the Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania bordering on the frivolous. After all, you are an Officer of the Court.”

Kane did share some materials with Gov. Corbett upon his request — the difference being, a Kane spokeswoman said, that the governor specifically sought information on individuals Kane had already named publicly.