WBIR Archives - Tennessee Coalition for Open Government

11 Sep, 2024

Tennessee is getting away with delaying access to public records, sometimes for years
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Tennessee is getting away with delaying access to public records, sometimes for years

public records lawsuits Tennessee, requests

Tennessee is getting away with delaying access to public records, sometimes for years

By Deborah Fisher|2024-09-11T14:16:43-05:00September 11, 2024|Categories: public records lawsuits Tennessee, requests|Tags: Chancellor John Weaver, delays, John Becker, Marc Perrusquia, Memphis, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, WBIR|0 Comments

Late last year, the city of Memphis wrote a $7,419.68 check to reimburse the attorney fees of journalist Marc Perrusquia rather than risk losing a public records lawsuit. The city folded before the case got before a judge. Something similar happened this summer in Knoxville when University of Tennessee threw in the towel on the eve of a public hearing in a public records case after stalling for more than a year and half. Tennessee ranked 45th in complying with public records requests, according to one study. We need fewer delays and better compliance with the law.

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.

Knox County judge reverses camera ban in courtroom

By Deborah Fisher|2015-08-18T08:15:28-05:00September 3, 2014|Categories: Open Courts|Tags: camera ban, courtroom access, Knoxville News Sentinel, Rick Hollow, tv camera ban, WBIR|0 Comments

The Knoxville News Sentinel and WBIR challenged a camera ban in the courtroom of a newly elected chancellor, and got a reversal. The judge had refused the newspaper's request to photograph his first day on the bench. The newspaper made the request under the Supreme Court Rule 30, which governs media coverage in courtrooms. The rule basically allows a judge an ability to limit or refuse media coverage in certain circumstances "to (i) control the conduct of the proceedings before the court; (ii) maintain decorum and prevent distractions; (iii) guarantee the safety of any party, witness, or juror; and (iv) ensure the fair administration of justice in the pending cause..." There [...]