Tennessee Chancery Court Judge I’Ashea L. Myles ruled in a decision released at 11:58 pm on Thursday that none of the writings left by Covenant School killer Audrey Elizabeth Hale shall be released to the multiple parties who sued Metro Nashville to secure their release, citing the copyright claims of the parents she earlier allowed to intervene in the lawsuit.
Myles ruled in favor of the defendants and intervenors in the case, refusing to release the documents to a collection of media organizations and individuals.
Among those who sued to compel the full release of Hale’s writings from Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) were The Tennessee Star editor-in-chief Michael Patrick Leahy, who is also CEO of Star News Digital Media Inc. (SNDM), the publisher of The Star. Other plaintiffs included the Tennessee Firearms Association, State Representative Todd Gardenhire (R-Chattanooga) and The Tennessean.
Myles ruled in favor of the Nashville Metropolitan Government, as well as the the Covenant School and Covenant parents, after more than 80 pages of Hales’ writings were obtained by The Star from a source familiar with the investigation. The Star has published more than 60 articles that include the killer’s words or provide details about the investigation.
Prior to her ruling, Myles first controversially allowed parents from the Covenant School, the Covenant School, and the Covenant Presbyterian Church to intervene in the case after Hale’s family claimed they assigned them the copyright of her written materials.
Myles declared in her Friday ruling, “materials created by Hale are exempted from disclosure based on the federal Copyright Act.”
Despite Hale dying at the Covenant School, where she killed three 9-year-old children and three adults in her March 27, 2023 attack, the police investigation remains ongoing. While the timeline for the police to finish their investigation remains unclear, the judge cited legislation which protects documents obtained by during police investigations.
“The release of the remaining documents which are not original, derivative or compilation works created by the assailant is further constrained by the exceptions to disclosure set forth by the General Assembly,” wrote Myles, explaining, “during the pendency of this investigation and any legal proceedings thereafter, the investigative files of the police and materials therein are not available” to the public.
Citing Tennessee law, Myles similarly declared, “any documents, information or plans related to school security is shall not be disclosed at any time and the Respondent is admonished to restrain access to that information to ensure the safety of both Tennessee schools and schools broadly.”
In her conclusion, Myles claimed, “the federal Copyright Act serves as a valid exemption to the Tennessee Public Records Act and thus preempts the disclosure of any original work of authorship in any form created by the assailant Hale which has been collected by Respondent Metro. The Petitioners have no right to any such requested information.”
The judge further clarified that Nashville “need not disclose any materials which are in its open investigative file and are relevant to any pending or contemplated criminal action until such investigation and any collateral criminal proceedings are complete.”
Both Leahy and SNDM remain plaintiffs in the ongoing federal lawsuit which seeks to compel the FBI to release Hale’s writings, and last month published an FBI memo sent to MNPD Chief John Drake in May 2023, just after the lawsuits were filed.
In the memo, the FBI “strongly” advised MNPD against releasing “legacy tokens” from killers like Hale, and a definition from the agency suggests both the writings obtained by The Star and those sought in the lawsuits are considered unfit for public release by the intelligence agency.
The FBI declined to confirm it sent the memo in a statement to The Star, but acknowledged it sends such “products” to local law enforcement to further mutual goals.
Read the full decision:
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Judge I’Ashea Myles” by Judge I’Ashea Myles.
It’s never the pills?
Sorry, the the horses left the barn a long time ago. Enough of the writings have been published to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Hale was a very sick individual, and that there are so many people in the medical profession, as well as Vanderbilt Medical Center, that have blood on their hands.
For leftists to try and focus their outrage at the firearms used by this sick individual just shows how totally clueless they are.
Judge Glamor shots. This is what happens when merit is ignored in favor of check boxes
Another Leftist whore spitting in the face of law, decency and humanity. Her insanity is writ large in every aspect of her appearance. Horrifying…
The judge is a liberal idiot.
” I’Ashea”….LOLOL! Look at those finger nails and heavy make-up. Maybe she/it/they should have spent that money on a better Law School.
I’m sure the White House was involved.
The unimaginable darkness being investigated by Metro PD and the FBI certainly must be revealed. The sinister plans laid by all those involved must be understood by the public to ensure public safety. Hiding it serves no legal or moral purpose. Shameful.
Check out the fingernails on that judge…
And this ruling is a joke.
Hooker nails. Joke, like the ruling.
The judge is full of doo-doo.
This LBJ pass-thru is part of a major coverup which goes all the way to DC.
A very good chance that the full writings are out on the Dark Webb.
I would like to know if the parents purchased the firearms and who at Vanderbilt issued the dangerous drugs.
There is no justice system in the United States. Only a system that protects criminals and fosters criminality.
I’Ashea. Enough said.
How can the shooter copyright anything from the grave? This ruling is a spit in the face of law and order.
Appeal this fascist clown’s unconstitutional edict. Enough with these black robed tyrants.
Just another DEI judge. Hopefully this ruling will be successfully appealed.
the coverup continues…..pitiful…..
So if the motive behind this crime is to be covered up, then neither should it be used as a pretext by the neo-Bolshevik politicians and their “useful idiots”to attack the rights of free citizens who had NOTHING to do with the crime —or its concealment by secret proceedings.
The very word ‘secrecy’ is repugnant in a free and open society; and we are as a people inherently and historically opposed to secret societies, to secret oaths, and to secret proceedings.” —John F Kennedy
Congratulations on finding a judge who works late on a federal holiday to deny freedom of the press.
And congratulations to all future criminals who can simply copyright their illegal communications and evidence to prevent it ftom becoming public knowledge.
If the Covenant Shooter’s writings are copyrighted material are the plaintiffs owed royalty payments from any media outlet that sites or publishes them?
All information about this case should be known in order to help prevent future school shootings
#1 Kid > Withholding information embarrassing to Democrats