(Milwaukee) Journal Sentinel files motion asking John Doe judge to release sealed county records
http://www.jsonline.com/news/journal-sentinel-files-motion-asking-john-doe-judge-to-release-sealed-county-records-b99101296z1-224297371.html?ipad=y
Thousands of Milwaukee County documents and emails seized in a John Doe investigation remain sealed seven months after the inquiry ended, and should be returned to the county so the public can gain access to them, according to a legal filing by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Lawyers for the Journal Sentinel and reporter Dave Umhoefer filed a motion Wednesday asking that the Doe be reopened for a hearing on the newspaper's request that District Attorney John Chisholm return the sealed records to the county. Not doing so, the paper argued, "would encourage other public officials and employees to pursue similar approaches to try to avoid public oversight of their conduct."
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The John Doe began in May 2010 to examine the possible misuse of public resources for political purposes. It led to the convictions of six people, including three former aides to Gov. Scott Walker while he was Milwaukee County executive, one Walker appointee, a major campaign contributor and a domestic partner of one of the defendants. The Doe was closed Feb. 21.
In July, Umhoefer made a public records request to reserve Judge Neal Nettesheim, who presided over the Doe, for any communications he may have had with people involved in a lawsuit over the fatal 2010 failure of the county's parking garage at O'Donnell Park. A large concrete panel fell from the garage and killed a teenager as he walked to Summerfest.