Judicial Watch: Court Hearing Set in Lawsuit Seeking Release of ‘Manifesto’ of Nashville Covenant School Shooter

(Washington, DC) – Judicial Watch today announced that a hearing is scheduled for Monday, January 29, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. before Chancellor I’Ashea Myles in the Chancery Court for Davidson County, 20th Judicial District in the public records lawsuit against the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County.

Judicial Watch is seeking release of records related to the March 27, 2023, shooting at The Covenant School in Tennessee, including the reported “manifesto” written by the suspected female shooter.

Judicial Watch filed its lawsuit on behalf of retired Hamilton County Sheriff James Hammond and the Tennessee Firearms Association, Inc. (“TFA”) (Hammond et al. v. Metropolitan Govt of Nashville et al. (No. 23-0538-III)). The court later consolidated Judicial Watch’s lawsuit with several others related to release of public records from The Covenant School shooting.

Recently, petitioner Clata Brewer filed a motion asking the court to schedule a show cause hearing to finally rule on whether to release the records and another motion asking the court to unseal the initial log created by Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (“MNPD”) describing records and materials in its possession. Petitioner Brewer argues the log needs to be unsealed because the current restrictions “interfere with the ability of the parties to refer to various documents, identified in the Log …” Brewer explains “the information in the Log is necessary to allow an unfettered presentation of evidence and arguments …”

On April 13, 2023, the TFA submitted two open records requests. The first asked the MNPD produce copies of records or files and inspection of “the ‘manifesto’ reportedly found in the home of Audrey Elizabeth Hall on March 27, 2023.” The second asked MNPD produce copies “all email communications of Metropolitan Nashville Police Department officials regarding the mass shooting committed by Audrey Elizabeth Hale on March 27, 2023, as well as MNPD officials’ text messages regarding the same, and copies of the ‘manifesto’ reported left by Audrey Elizabeth Hale in her vehicle.”

In a separate request on April 17, 2023, Sheriff Hammond asked that the MNPD provide all criminal police reports documenting the incident.

The MNPD denied these requests citing without identifying any underlying criminal case or even a potential defendant.

The Tennessee Public Records Act states: “[a]ll state, county and municipal records shall … be open for personal inspection by any citizen of this state, and those in charge of the records shall not refuse such right of inspection to any citizen, unless otherwise provided by state law. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-503(a)(2)(A).” The lawsuit requests the court allow prompt access to the requested public records.

On May 17, 2023, MNPD argued in court that it did not object to a release of the “redacted” manifesto, but many other records are still under review. Additionally, the MNPD stated the investigation could take approximately one year to complete.

The resolution of the case has been delayed for disputes about whether the school and school/victims’ parents could intervene and prevent the release of the “manifesto” and other investigatory material.

John I. Harris III, Esq., of Schulman, LeRoy & Bennett, PC in Nashville, TN, is assisting Judicial Watch with the lawsuit.

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