Judicial Watch: Hearing Set for Tuesday in Lawsuit for Release of ‘Manifesto’ in Nashville School Shooting

(Washington, DC) – Judicial Watch announced today that a hearing is set for Tuesday, April 16, 2024, 10 a.m. CT, 9 a.m. ET, before Chancellor I’Ashea Myles in the Chancery Court for Davidson County, 20th Judicial District, in the public records lawsuit against the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County for records related to the March 2023 shooting at The Covenant School in Tennessee, including the reported “manifesto” written by the female shooter.

Judicial Watch filed an open records lawsuit on behalf of retired Hamilton County Sheriff James Hammond and the Tennessee Firearms Association, Inc. (“TFA”) (Hammond et al. v. Metropolitan Govt of Nashville et al. (No. 23-0538-III)). The court later consolidated Judicial Watch’s lawsuit with several others related to release of public records from The Covenant School shooting.

Petitioner Clata Brewer filed a motion asking the court for the show cause hearing to finally rule on whether to release the records and another motion asking the court to unseal the initial log created by Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (“MNPD”) describing records and materials in its possession.

Audrey Elizabeth Hale, a 28-year-old trans artist, was killed by police after opening fire on the private Christian elementary school in Nashville, Tennessee, killing three adults and three children.

The resolution of the case has been delayed over disputes about whether the school and school/victims’ parents could intervene and prevent the release of the “manifesto” and other investigatory material.

“We urge the court to place the public’s right to know above any political considerations,” Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said.

John I. Harris III, Esq., of Schulman, LeRoy & Bennett, PC in Nashville, TN, is assisting Judicial Watch with the lawsuit.

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