WICHITA, Kan. (AP) _ A federal judge refuses to disqualify a prosecutor accused by defense attorneys of prosecutorial misconduct in the case against a Kansas doctor and his wife linked to 58 accidental overdose deaths.

U.S. District Judge Monti Belot told prosecutors and defense attorneys in court Friday that other procedures are in place for such complaints.

The defense for Dr. Stephen Schneider and his wife, nurse Linda Schneider, had asked Belot to disqualify Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanya Treadway for allegedly improper contact with expert defense witnesses. Prosecutors previously had made three attempts to disqualify defense counsel.

Belot said he doesn't think it's appropriate for him to make decisions about lawyers' conduct.

The judge said he will consider whether to issue a protective order barring attorneys from contacting expert witnesses without opposing counsel present.

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