investigative exemption Archives - Tennessee Coalition for Open Government

22 Jul, 2024

Judge cleared release for many Covenant shooting police records despite copyright ruling on manifesto
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Judge cleared release for many Covenant shooting police records despite copyright ruling on manifesto

crime records, public records lawsuits Tennessee

Judge cleared release for many Covenant shooting police records despite copyright ruling on manifesto

By Deborah Fisher|2024-07-24T06:32:25-05:00July 22, 2024|Categories: crime records, public records lawsuits Tennessee|Tags: Chancellor I'Ashea Myles, copyright, Covenant parents, investigative exemption, Metro Nashville, police records, school security, The Covenant School shooting|0 Comments

Much attention has been given to a ruling by Chancellor I'Ashea Myles blocking release of the Covenant School shooter's manifesto and other writings. But a closer look at the ruling shows that she has cleared the way for release of other records in the case as soon as police officially finish their investigation. In March, police said the investigation would be over in June. In mid-June, they said it would be over in July. So is a release of records imminent?

4 May, 2023

Police say Covenant School parents may intervene in public records case, judge delays hearing
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Police say Covenant School parents may intervene in public records case, judge delays hearing

crime records, public records lawsuits Tennessee

Police say Covenant School parents may intervene in public records case, judge delays hearing

By Deborah Fisher|2023-05-04T15:26:53-05:00May 4, 2023|Categories: crime records, public records lawsuits Tennessee|Tags: Audrey Hale, Chancellor I'Ashea Myles, investigative exemption, National Police Association, Rule 16, Tennessee Firearms Association, The Covenant School shooting|0 Comments

The Davidson County chancellor overseeing the public records case over the Covenant School shooter's manifesto has moved the initial hearing in the case five weeks to June 8. Police say in their motion that this would allow time for parents of students at The Covenant School to intervene and that some parents have said they oppose release of the shooter's writings.

29 Apr, 2023

Public records lawsuit filed to force release of Covenant School shooter’s manifesto
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Public records lawsuit filed to force release of Covenant School shooter’s manifesto

crime records, public records lawsuits Tennessee

Public records lawsuit filed to force release of Covenant School shooter’s manifesto

By Deborah Fisher|2023-05-08T12:06:44-05:00April 29, 2023|Categories: crime records, public records lawsuits Tennessee|Tags: Audrey Hale, Doug Pierce, investigative exemption, Rule 16, The Covenant School shooting|0 Comments

A Hendersonville resident has filed a lawsuit to force the Nashville Police Department to release the Covenant School shooter's manifesto and other writings, saying that Tennessee law does not allow police to withhold material that is not part of pending or contemplated criminal action.

26 Apr, 2023

Is school shooter Audrey Hale’s ‘manifesto’ an open record under the Tennessee Public Records Act?
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Is school shooter Audrey Hale’s ‘manifesto’ an open record under the Tennessee Public Records Act?

crime records

Is school shooter Audrey Hale’s ‘manifesto’ an open record under the Tennessee Public Records Act?

By Deborah Fisher|2023-04-26T16:40:22-05:00April 26, 2023|Categories: crime records|Tags: Audrey Hale, investigative exemption, State Sen. Todd Gardenhire, The Covenant School|3 Comments

School shooter Audrey Hale's manifesto would not fall under the so-called "investigative exemption" to Tennessee's public records law because this exemption is only available when there is an investigation into possible criminal charges. Here, the shooter is dead. Police have said she acted alone. So if there are no other suspects to charge, there is no investigation that could lead to criminal charges against someone.

19 Aug, 2019

Court of Appeals reins in state’s expansive use of investigative exemption

By Deborah Fisher|2019-08-19T20:25:15-05:00August 19, 2019|Categories: investigative exemption, public records lawsuits Tennessee|Tags: Court of Appeals, Frank G. Clement Jr., investigative exemption, Janet Kleinfelter, Judge D. Michael Swiney, Judge Richard Dinkins, Phil Williams, TCOG news|1 Comment

The Tennessee Court of Appeals in a ruling on Friday put much-needed limits around the so-called investigative exemption that has been used by the state to cloak otherwise public records. "We hold that public records created in the ordinary course of business, which are non-investigative in nature, and which are otherwise accessible by Tennessee citizens under the TPRA (Tennessee Public Records Act), do not subsequently become exempt from disclosure because of the initiation of a criminal investigation in which those records become relevant," the Court ruled in Scripps Media, Inc. v. Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. Williams requested travel, other ordinary public records from state News [...]