S.D. media organizations join records appeal to state Supreme Court
Read the full story in the Argus Leader
South Dakota media organizations will take part in an Argus Leader lawsuit
that seeks the names of people invited to the governor's annual pheasant
hunt.
The South Dakota Newspaper Association, The Associated Press and
the South Dakota Broadcaster's Association filed a "friend of the court" brief,
which will allow them to present information to the state Supreme Court. The
court will determine whether the state was lawful in keeping the identities of
those invited to the hunt from the public.
Early last year, the Argus
Leader sued the state to get the names of those invited to the governor's hunt.
The state argued to keep the names secret so other states wouldn't have access
to South Dakota's business prospects.
Sixth Circuit Judge Max Gors ruled in May that since the state was not
required to keep a list of names, it did not have to turn one over. The
newspaper appealed to the South Dakota Supreme Court in
October.
Representatives from the media organizations say they joined the
case because it is a good test for South Dakota's open records laws.
"This case offers an opportunity to get some definition on open records law,
and we couldn't pass that up," said David Bordewyk, general manager of the South
Dakota Newspaper Association. Bordewyk attended the 2006 governor's
hunt.
Tena Haraldson, chief of bureau for the North Dakota, South Dakota
and Nebraska Associated Press, said the state is overdue for interpretation of
the law.