The Tennessee Star’s state lawsuit demanding the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (MNPD) release the Covenant School killer’s manifesto and related documents is being transferred to Chancery Court.
Tennessee First Circuit Court Judge David Briley (pictured above) this week granted the transfer, requested by attorneys for the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, defendants in the case.
The lawsuit, filed by Star News Digital Media Inc., parent company of The Tennessee Star, will now be heard by Davidson County Chancellor I’Ashea Myles, who is also hearing the consolidated case of two lawsuits — filed by the Tennessee Firearms Association and the National Police Association — seeking the records.
“Due to the similarity of issues and of the requested materials in the matter before this Court and in the consolidated cases currently in Chancery Court Part III, this court finds that transfer to Chancery Court Part III is proper…,” Briley wrote in his order, issued Tuesday. The judge added that he lacks the authority to consolidate the case. Myles, however, does have said authority.
Myles has scheduled a status conference on consolidated lawsuits for Thursday, with a show cause hearing set for June 8. The Covenant Presbyterian Church has asked to intervene in that lawsuit. The chancellor reportedly has been reviewing redacted and unredacted versions of the writings of Audrey Elizabeth Hale, who on March 27 stormed into the Covenant Presbyterian School and shot dead three 9-year-olds and three staff members before being fatally shot by responding police officers.
At circuit court proceedings this week, attorneys for the government continued to argue that the police department doesn’t have to release Hale’s manifesto because of an ongoing criminal procedure. But it appears there is no such investigation. Hale, the sole killer in the case, is dead. The judge grilled Metro Nashville attorneys on that point.
Metro Nashville, through the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, “has violated the Tennessee Public Records Act by failing to provide the records” that The Tennessee Star has requested, the lawsuit alleges.
Star News also has filed a federal lawsuit against the FBI, which is assisting in the Covenant killer matter.
“It is in the public interest to release the Covenant killer’s manifesto and related documents now,” said Michael Patrick Leahy, chief executive officer of Star News Digital Media, resident of Tennessee, and plaintiff in the lawsuits. “We are taking every possible avenue, in federal court by suing the FBI, and in state court by suing Metro Nashville government, to ensure this vital information is released to the public.”
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M.D. Kittle is the National Political Editor for The Star News Network.
Photo “Judge David Briley” by David Briley and “First Circuit Courthouse” by CMH2315FL CC-NC-2.0.
The perps behind these running man wag the dog telphon politically motivated made for tv news acts of terror have to be called out shame on you govenor lee
I’m inclined to think there my be something to the Franklin Alderman’s claim. #releasethemanifesto #leftyjudges