Pioneer Press: A Ramsey County judge ruled Tuesday that the Twin Cities archdiocese must turn over by March 31 documents related to its priests “credibly accused” of child sexual abuse.
Names and biographical information on those 34 priests were disclosed in December, but attorneys for a plaintiff known as Doe 1 sought church documents that the archdiocese so far has refused to release.
Judge John Van de North wrote in a memorandum that Minnesota has a “long tradition of liberal discovery and a generous definition of relevance for purposes of gathering facts prior to trial.”
Jeff Anderson & Associates Note: Court orders requiring institutions to release information about credibly accused individuals often focus on transparency and public safety. Access to personnel files, investigation records, and internal documents can be important for litigation, investigations, and community awareness.