Judge: Media can join lawsuit against Blunt
What a difference a few weeks makes.
Last month, Cole County Circuit Court Judge Richard Callahan gave some hope to the administration of Gov. Matt Blunt that the lawsuit seeking e-mails and back up tapes filed by investigators appointed by Attorney General Jay Nixon might get tossed out.
But not only did the new investigators Callahan appointed refile the suit, Callahan has ruled that the media, including the Post-Dispatch, can join the suit.
The Associated Press has the story:
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Three news outlets can join a lawsuit against Gov. Matt Blunt over access to e-mails.
Former Democratic Lt. Gov. Joe Maxwell and Republican attorney Louis Leonatti earlier this week refiled a lawsuit against Blunt. The two were appointed to take over a suit filed by investigators picked by the attorney general’s office.
The most recent lawsuit wants the court to decide if e-mails are subject to open-records and document retention laws. It also asks that governor’s office e-mails be turned over for free.
The Associated Press, Kansas City Star and St. Louis Post-Dispatch sought to join the suit to pursue separate Sunshine Law requests for documents. The court has ruled that the media can intervene in the suit.
Excellent news! There is too much corruption in government… hopefully this sends a message to our politicians at all levels. Now if we could just go after Joe Mokwa and the parking lot company.
Perhaps the Post-Dispatch might like to cover the recent admonishment of the Mehlville Fire Department’s Board of Directors by the Missouri Attorney General’s office. That’s if you’d like to cover some local Sunshine Law violations.
I say ALL emails/calendars should be open to the public at any time, in addition requiring all phone conversations to be recorded.
This would be the 1st step in eliminating corruption.
What do you mean “join” the lawsuit? Since when were the PD and the Nixon camp not joined together on a mutual crusade?
It’s border-line comical that when Nixon fails with his lawsuit, the PD is there to give him support and pick up the slack.
This is great!!!
We have spent tens of thousands of our tax dollars on Blunt and his cronies (including Ed Martin) legal bills.
Outrageous!!
The Eckersly legal files need to be made public immediately!