Case Name: J. Roslyn LEMMON v. Harry F. CONNICK, District Attorney for the City of New Orleans
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1991-12-13
Citations: 590 So. 2d 574
Docket Number: No. 91-CC-2377
Parties: J. Roslyn LEMMON v. Harry F. CONNICK, District Attorney for the City of New Orleans.
Judges: LEMMON, J., recused.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 590
Pages: 574–575

Head Matter:
J. Roslyn LEMMON v. Harry F. CONNICK, District Attorney for the City of New Orleans.
No. 91-CC-2377.
Supreme Court of Louisiana.
Dec. 13, 1991.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
The writ is granted and the judgment of the court of appeal is reversed. La.R.S. 44:3, listing the exceptions to the general rule that records held by public bodies are public, exempts from disclosure "[r]ecords pertaining to pending criminal litigation or any criminal litigation which can be reasonably anticipated, until such litigation has been finally adjudicated or otherwise settled." (West 1982). Post conviction relief, which the respondent argued is contemplated by relator's client, is not "criminal litigation" within the meaning of this section of the Public Records Act. The reasons for this conclusion were well stated by the court of appeal in Harrison v. Norris, 569 So.2d 585 (La.App. 2d Cir.1990). Insofar as Bizal v. Connick, 489 So.2d 343 (La.App. 4th Cir.1986) is inconsistent, it is disapproved. The respondent is ordered to produce records in its possession and not otherwise privileged.
LEMMON, J., recused.
MARCUS and COLE, JJ., dissent with reasons.