Supreme Court autopsy ruling trumps public accountability

Bill Rogers Guest Editorial

July 17, 2014


On Tuesday, the court ruled that autopsy records are exempt from release under the FOIA because they are medical records.

Why does this matter to the public?


That is what this case was about… the shooting of an innocent suspect. Supposedly in self-defense. Problem is, the autopsy showed the suspect in Sumter County was shot in the back.

Can you see now why autopsy records should be public?

This is a terrible ruling that will allow coroners to withhold information the public has a need to know.

This case was really about public oversight, and the public lost.




Why is this a problem for the public?

Because you won’t know what your councils or school boards will be discussing, so you won’t be able to participate in the discussion.

These rulings send us back to secret government.

Sure, the Legislature can fix this. But will they? For the last two years, efforts at FOIA reform have failed.

It will fail again if the public and the media don’t demand FOIA and ethics reform.