Public Records Archives - Page 2 of 75 - Tennessee Coalition for Open Government

13 Jun, 2024

Judge Myles goes after press for publishing information from leaked documents in Covenant case
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Judge Myles goes after press for publishing information from leaked documents in Covenant case

crime records, public records lawsuits Tennessee

Judge Myles goes after press for publishing information from leaked documents in Covenant case

By Deborah Fisher|2024-06-13T21:44:57-05:00June 13, 2024|Categories: crime records, public records lawsuits Tennessee|Tags: Chancellor I'Ashea Myles, Michael Patrick Leahy, prior restraint, The Covenant School shooting, The Tennessee Star|0 Comments

Davidson County Chancellor I’Ashea L. Myles is going after the press for publishing information from leaked documents from the police investigative file of the Covenant case involving the 2023 school shooting. Specifically, on Monday she ordered Michael Patrick Leahy, editor and owner of the online Tennessee Star, to appear in court on the next Monday, June 17, to explain why his publication of information from leaked documents on his website does not violate her orders and why Leahy should not be held in contempt and sanctioned.

21 May, 2024

Lawmakers retain public inspection of autopsy reports of minors, but prohibit release of copies
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Lawmakers retain public inspection of autopsy reports of minors, but prohibit release of copies

crime records, Legislature

Lawmakers retain public inspection of autopsy reports of minors, but prohibit release of copies

By Deborah Fisher|2024-05-21T10:12:48-05:00May 21, 2024|Categories: crime records, Legislature|Tags: autopsy reports, crime victims, minors, Rebecca Alexander, State Rep. William Lamberth, State Sen. Shane Reeves, The Covenant School shooting|0 Comments

A contentious bill to close autopsy reports of minors whose cause of death is listed as a homicide ended up with a compromise: Copies cannot be released but a person can still inspect such reports in person. The bill was first introduced in the special session called by the governor in the wake of the shooting at the Covenant School in Nashville in which six people were killed, including three children. The parents of at least one of the children was deeply alarmed that the autopsy report of her child could be released to the public. The bill got stuck in the Senate during the special session and was reintroduced in 2024. It passed with the amendment, a compromise sought by TCOG and news media organizations.

3 May, 2024

Improper use of public records not a reason for sanction, appeals court says
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Improper use of public records not a reason for sanction, appeals court says

public records lawsuits Tennessee

Improper use of public records not a reason for sanction, appeals court says

By Deborah Fisher|2024-05-03T11:59:13-05:00May 3, 2024|Categories: public records lawsuits Tennessee|Tags: Connie Reguli, Court of Appeals, Judge Jeffery Usman, Judge Joseph A. Woodruff, Mayor Rogers Anderson, public records lawsuit, Rule 11 sanctions, Williamson County|0 Comments

Beleaguered Brentwood attorney Connie Reguli may have done many things wrong, but filing a public records request for county billing records wasn't one of them. The Court of Appeals on May 2 overturned a Williamson County judge's sanctions against Reguli who was concerned she would use the records to lobby against continued taxpayer funding of the legal defense of a former county employee accused of sexual assault.

1 May, 2024

WBIR anchor files public records suit over denial of UT-Battelle records
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WBIR anchor files public records suit over denial of UT-Battelle records

public records lawsuits Tennessee, public university records

WBIR anchor files public records suit over denial of UT-Battelle records

By Deborah Fisher|2024-05-01T15:29:55-05:00May 1, 2024|Categories: public records lawsuits Tennessee, public university records|Tags: John Becker, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Paul McAdoo, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, trade secrets, University of Tennessee, UT-Battelle, WBIR|0 Comments

Longtime WBIR journalist John Becker has filed a lawsuit challenging the University of Tennessee's denial of public records related to its joint venture, UT-Battelle LLC, which runs the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The case is set to be heard on May 31 in Knox County Chancery Court.

8 Feb, 2024

State tourism department bill seeks sweeping exemption to public records law
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State tourism department bill seeks sweeping exemption to public records law

economic development, Legislature

State tourism department bill seeks sweeping exemption to public records law

By Deborah Fisher|2024-04-08T12:17:21-05:00February 8, 2024|Categories: economic development, Legislature|0 Comments

Gov. Bill Lee’s administration is seeking a sweeping exemption to the public records law that would close any public records of the Tennessee Department of Tourism Development if the commissioner determines that the information is too "sensitive" to release. The exemption would most likely hide information about outcomes related to its marketing efforts.