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.