An advisory group of the Tennessee administrator of the courts, forced to allow public observation, includes new justice Dwight Tarwater. A federal suit prompted by a Chattanooga radio reporter’s arrest and a lawsuit by a second journalist is cracking open the court’s illegally secretive meetings and events. (Photo AOC page on YouTube)
The Tennessee Advisory Commission on Rules of Practice and Procedure will livestream its 9 a.m. Friday quarterly meeting in compliance with a federal court order to make the meetings public.
By Jon Styf / The Center Square
The meetings have been forced open after a March 2023 preliminary injunction in a lawsuit from The Center Square Vice President of News and Content Dan McCaleb.
McCaleb is represented by the Liberty Justice Center.
McCaleb sued on First Amendment grounds to open the meetings, where the committee discusses court rule changes that it will recommend the Tennessee General Assembly pass.
Tennessee Administrator of Courts Director Michelle Long and the department have continued to fight the lawsuit through the Tennessee Attorney General’s office in an attempt to close the meetings.
The case was prompted by the administrator of the courts’ having NoogaRadio reporters David Tulis and Christopher Sapp seized, with Tulis being arrested and criminally charged with trespass Nov. 6, 2021.
