Top Kansas lawmakers have hired a Kansas City-area attorney to represent the Legislature in a school funding lawsuit.

The Republican-dominated Legislature’s top seven leaders voted Thursday to hire Toby Crouse of Overland Park to help lawmakers collect evidence and build a record for the state Supreme Court.

The court ruled last month that a 2015 school funding law shorts poor school districts on their state aid. The justices threatened to shut down public schools unless lawmakers fix the problems before July.

Legislators approved spending $50,000 for an attorney, and Republicans began looking for a lawyer.

Senate President Susan Wagle of Wichita said legislative leaders needed to act quickly because lawmakers are already considering school funding proposals.

But the Legislature’s two Democratic leaders were wary of moving so quickly.