Posted on 02/14/2005 9:52:40 AM PST by sauropod
Judge Dismisses Sun Suit Against Ehrlich
Monday, February 14, 2005
WBAL Radio
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A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit challenging the order by Governor Ehrlich barring state employees from contact with two Sun writers.
U-S District Court Judge William Quarles said in his order he was dismissing the case filed by The Sun because The Sun was seeking more access to government officials than that accorded a private citizen. The judge wrote, "The Sun seeks the declaration of a constitutional right that neither the Supreme Court nor the Fourth Circuit has recognized."
The judge also ruled the The Sun could not demonstrate irreparable harm or the likelihood of success in the case on its merits.
Sun editor Tim Franklin says he's disappointed by the decision and says The Sun is weighing a possible appeal.
Governor Ehrlich, at an event in suburban Washington, said he would not comment on the dismissal until he can review the court decision.
The Ehrlich administration issued the order last fall, barring state employees from talking to the Sun's State House bureau chief David Nitkin and columnist Michael Olesker.
Ehrlich said the two journalists were not objectively covering his administration.
The Sun brought the suit in December, asking that the order be lifted, claiming it viiolates the First Amendment rights of Nitkin and Olesker, because it denied them the same opportunities to get information as other news organizations and citizens.
Pity poor poor Saint Olesker. /s
Sun Suit? Didn't he write "The Art of War?"
;-)
< inscrutable countenance>
Ahhh yes. This is so!
< /inscrutable countenance>
I also included some more information about the ongoing rumors and the FR connection to the story.
Admin: if you have to delete my post can you include the addtional material in this one?
Danke schoen for Mit ping!
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