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Alabama Court Orders Birmingham Police Department, City Council Audit Reports Disclosed
Birmingham, Alabama, City Council Director Hoyt Bedingfield appealed a permanent court injunction grant to the Birmingham News Company (media) requiring the production of two internal audit reports. The court affirmed judgment because the reports were "public writings" subject to disclosure by law.
The media's requests were for the production of Birmingham Police Department Vice and Narcotics Division and the City Council's internal audit reports which were requested through the Mayor's office for fiscal management and policies' evaluation. Bedingfield made it a practice to deny all department audit requests and offered to produce yearly statements for the City. The media filed action and the court granted their permanent injunction petition for disclosure. Bedingfield appealed claiming that the reports were not "public writings" and that disclosure would seriously affect public interest.
The Supreme Court of Alabama failed to find any "confidential" issues or exceptions to disclosure. The court held that creating exemptions to public disclosure requirements would contradict public official's sworn obligations of integrity. See: Bedingfield v. The Birmingham News Company, 595 So.2d 1379, (Ala. 1992).
The media's requests were for the production of Birmingham Police Department Vice and Narcotics Division and the City Council's internal audit reports which were requested through the Mayor's office for fiscal management and policies' evaluation. Bedingfield made it a practice to deny all department audit requests and offered to produce yearly statements for the City. The media filed action and the court granted their permanent injunction petition for disclosure. Bedingfield appealed claiming that the reports were not "public writings" and that disclosure would seriously affect public interest.
The Supreme Court of Alabama failed to find any "confidential" issues or exceptions to disclosure. The court held that creating exemptions to public disclosure requirements would contradict public official's sworn obligations of integrity. See: Bedingfield v. The Birmingham News Company, 595 So.2d 1379, (Ala. 1992).
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Related legal case
Bedingfield v. The Birmingham News Company
| Year | 1992 |
|---|---|
| Cite | 595 So.2d 1379, (Ala. 1992) |
| Level | State Supreme Court |
| Conclusion | Bench Verdict |
| Injunction Status | Granted |