KY Supreme Court Hears Kentucky New Era Case

The Kentucky Supreme Court heard arguments late last week from attorneys representing the Kentucky New Era and the city of Hopkinsville.  The case stems from the Hopkinsville Police Department’s handling of citations and incident reports since 2010, when the department began a policy of categorically blacking out the addresses and phone numbers of victims and witnesses to crimes. Louisville attorney Jon Fleischaker, who represents the New Era, says that these redactions hinder the media’s reporting on how the police departments handle citizens who report crimes. Hopkinsville police are releasing the names, birthdates, genders and races of witnesses and victims from an earlier court ruling.  However, officials still black out their addresses, phone numbers and driver’s license numbers.