By Jessica Paine | Jan. 27, 2024
HOPKINSVILLE – With the exception of the bailiff, clerk and judge, everyone in Christian Circuit Court Courtroom 2 Wednesday afternoon traveled from either Murray, Paducah or Louisville to attend the summary judgment hearing in a lawsuit between Paducah television station WPSD-TV and Murray State University over public records. The hearing, which most anticipated would take hours and end with a ruling on the case, was over in 15 minutes because a logistics issue prevented the judge from reviewing the exhibits the parties filed with their pleadings.
The Calloway Circuit Court case stems from a dispute over information MSU redacted when it produced records in response to two open records requests (ORRs) that WPSD submitted in the fall of 2022. Because a conflict of interest required Calloway Circuit Judge Andrea Moore to recuse, Christian Circuit Judge John Atkins was appointed special judge to preside over the proceedings; however, filings in the case still fall under the purview of the Calloway Circuit Court Clerk’s office, a technicality that became very relevant 11 minutes into the hearing.