Antell v. Attorney General

When, as here, a governmental entity subject to the public records statute, G. L. c. 66, § 10, reviews a request for documents and other records in its possession, it may not withhold disclosure unless a specific statutory exemption applies. See General Elec. Co. v. Department of Envtl. Protection, 429 Mass. 798, 805-806 (1999).

In the instant case, the Attorney General seeks to shield *245certain materials concerning a 1991 criminal inquiry into the conduct of Michael Cronin, who serves "as police chief of the town of Amesbury. Although the Attorney General’s investigation did not result in the…