Legislation & Lobbying
Creepy Convict Has Right to See Lawyer-Related Public Records
Posted Mar 25, 2008, 05:44 pm CDT
By Martha Neil
A Washington state prison inmate serving 24 years for arranging to firebomb two lawyers' cars has a right to seek personal information about state attorneys, prison guards and judges, a court case has determined, even if it isn't apparent that doing so serves the public interest.
Under open records laws, ruled King County Superior Judge Glenna Hall, public officials have no discretion about whether to give a man like Allan Parmelee access to public documents that reveal personal details about public workers, reports the Associated Press. Prosecutor Dan Satterberg had sought an injunction barring Parmelee from making further requests without court permission under the Washington Public Records Act, arguing that they are harassing and could put his staff in danger.
Parmelee reportedly has filed hundreds of public records requests seeking photos, work schedules, pay rates, phone numbers and birth dates for state attorneys, prison workers and even judges.
Although Hall denied Satterberg's request, a Thurston County Superior Court previously said prison staff photos didn't have to be provided to Parmelee. That ruling is under appeal by Parmelee, and is it possible Hall's ruling today will be appealed by the prosecutor's office.
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