Cole v. Campbell

OPINION

ANDERSON, Chief Justice.

We granted this appeal to determine whether a convicted felon has standing to seek public records in the possession of the Department, of Correction pursuant to the Tennessee Public Records Act.

The Chancery Court ruled that the prison inmate who sought documents related to a prison riot in which he was involved lacked standing under the Public Records Act because he was a felon and dismissed the petition. A majority of the Middle Section Court of Appeals affirmed, holding that a convicted felon (having been rendered infamous) is not a “citizen” under the Public…