Kilgore v. R. W. Page Corp.

Weltner, Justice.

A newspaper publisher filed suit against a coroner to prohibit him from closing to the public a scheduled inquest. The superior court directed that any such inquest be open to the public. The coroner appealed, insisting that an open inquest might compromise an ongoing criminal investigation.

In granting relief, the trial court relied upon the standards set out in R. W. Page Corp. v. Lumpkin, 249 Ga. 576 (292 SE2d 815) (1982). The coroner insists, however, that he is permitted to convene a closed inquest by virtue of certain language1 contained in R. W. Page Corp. v. Kilgore,…