MAINE
Portland Press Herald
EDITOR'S NOTE: Jeannine Guttman
When a newspaper takes an issue to court, when it fights to get information it believes to be public record and in the public interest, what journalistic values must be weighed if the newspaper prevails?
In other words, if the information is released, if the newspaper wins the legal debate, how do editors then decide what to publish? What principles must be considered? What standards must be met?
Those were questions we faced when we decided in July 2002 to pursue a legal claim against the state of Maine and the Attorney General's Office. We spent nearly three years in court, fighting to win access to the names of deceased priests who had been accused of sexual misconduct. It was a costly strategy, in terms of time and money, but one that we thought was worth the expense.
How did we end up in this protracted court battle?
In spring 2002, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland gave to state officials the names of priests accused of sexual misconduct. This was done so law enforcement officials could determine whether there was any criminal conduct that could be adjudicated.
Posted by kshaw at June 12, 2005 06:32 AM