The Tennessean v. Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County

OPINION

in which Cornelia A. Clark, Jeffrey S. Bivins, and Holly Kirby, JJ., joined. Holly'Kirby, J., filed a separate concurring opinion. Gary R. Wade, J., filed a dissenting opinion.

The issue in this case is whether a coalition of media groups and a citizens organization, relying on the Tennessee Public Records Act, have the right to inspect a police department’s criminal investigative file while the criminal cases arising out of the investigation are ongoing. Four Vanderbilt University football players were indicted for aggravated rape and other criminal charges arising out of the alleged…