Oklahoma Judge Denies Reconsideration Of Email Ruling

Thursday, August 7th 2014, 6:14 pm

By: News 9

Oklahoma Judge Denies Reconsideration Of Email Ruling

An Oklahoma County judge has rejected a request to reconsider a ruling that says Gov. Mary Fallin has the legal right to withhold documents requested by news organizations under Oklahoma's Open Records Act.

Quinton Gentry, a clerk for District Judge Barbara Swinton, says the judge Thursday denied a reconsideration motion filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma.

Swinton ruled in June that state law recognizes the "deliberative process privilege" and Fallin could withhold the documents. Brady Henderson, legal director of the ACLU, says the organization plans to appeal.

The ACLU filed the lawsuit last year on behalf of news organizations that sought documents from Fallin's office involving rejection of a state health insurance exchange. Officials released more than 51,000 pages but withheld 31 documents Fallin claimed are privileged.