THE IOWA SUPREME COURT HEARD ARGUMENTS WEDNESDAY IN A REQUEST BY THE STATE TO DISMISS A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE GOVERNOR OVER THE RELEASE OF PUBLIC RECORDS DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC.
THE RECORDS WERE RELEASED 18 MONTHS AFTER THE REQUEST WHEN THE LAWSUIT WAS FILED BY THE IOWA A-C-L-U ON BEHALF OF JOURNALISTS SEEKING THOSE RECORDS.
ERIC WESSAN, THE ATTORNEY FOR THE GOVERNOR, SAYS THE ADMINISTRATION FOLLOWED THE LAW BECAUSE IT NEVER DENIED THE REQUEST.
OPEN8 OC………RESPONSIVE RECORDS” :08
CHIEF JUSTICE SUSAN CHRISTENSEN SAYS THIS APPROACH COULD REQUIRE ANYONE WHO REQUESTED OPEN RECORDS TO EVENTUALLY HIRE A LAWYER TO GET AN AGENCY TO COMPLY.
SHE SAYS THAT COULD BE EXPENSIVE AND SOME PEOPLE COULD NOT AFFORD TO DO THAT.
OPEN9 OC……PERIOD OF TIME” :14
THOMAS STORY, THE ATTORNEY FOR THE A-C-L-U, SAYS THE STATE SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO STALL AND FORCE A LAWSUIT.
OPEN10 OC…….ON REQUEST” :18
WESSAN SAYS THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE GAVE VERY LITTLE RESPONSE TO THE RECORDS REQUEST OTHER THAN TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEY RECEIVED THE REQUEST.
STORY SAYS THERE SHOULD BE SOME REASON GIVEN FOR NOT PRODUCING THE RECORDS.
OPEN11 OC…..IT WAS DOING” :14
STORY SAYS THE STRATEGY WAS TO DELAY AND FORCE A LAWSUIT.
OPEN12 OC……..OF. GOVERNMENT” :06
THE SUPREME COURT WILL ISSUE ITS RULING AT A LATER DATE.
