A federal judge on Monday ordered Secretary of State Kris Kobach to appear at a hearing later this week to explain why he shouldn’t be held in contempt of court.

U.S. District Court Judge Julie Robinson issued the order in an ongoing voting rights lawsuit. The plaintiffs contend Kobach has failed to register individuals applying at Division of Motor Vehicle offices who haven’t shown proof of citizenship — despite a federal order.

Robinson directs Kobach to appear at the Friday hearing, and says he may file a written reply by the end of business Thursday. Late last week, the plaintiffs, represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, asked Robinson to order Kobach to comply.

"Plaintiffs now understand from statements and representations made by Defendant Kobach that he does not intend to add individuals covered by the Preliminary Injunction to Kansas’s official voter roll. The parties appear to have fundamental disagreements over what Defendant Kobach must do to comply with the Court’s Order and with federal law," the ACLU said a legal filing.

Kobach said the state "is in full compliance with the district court's order," according to the Associated Press.

In May, Robinson ordered Kobach to begin registering for congressional and presidential elections — not state races — all Kansans who had applications suspended or canceled due to failure to provide proof of citizenship at the same time they sought a driver's license.

A separate ruling by a Shawnee County district court judge later allowed the voters to also cast ballots in state and local races.