Seattle Times Co. v. Eberharter

(concurring in the result) — This case deals with the right of access to public records. The news media is not here seeking favored treatment because the rights of *158the media in this regard are coextensive with the rights of the public.3 Thus, it must be understood that when the rights of the news media are infringed upon in this regard, so, too, are the rights of the public infringed upon.

The whole matter of access to public records once seemed so simple. Almost two decades ago, the concept was clearly and succinctly expressed as follows:

1. Free access to public records is of paramount…