In re Certain Inquest Minutes

Certain inquest proceedings were held in connection with State v. Lawrence, 134 Vt. 373, 360 A.2d 55 (1976). They were held under the authority of 13 V.S.A. § 5131, which allows a judge of the district or county court to conduct an inquest “upon any criminal matter under investigation by the state’s attorney.”

An application under 13 V.S.A. § 5134 was made to the superior court for permission to disclose to certain persons a part of those minutes. The lower court denied the application as a matter of discretion without an evidentiary hearing, and that ruling was brought to this Court for…