Court decision rules against Kentucky Kernel

Fayette County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Clark ruled in favor of UK Monday in its lawsuit against the Kentucky Kernel regarding the newspaper’s pursuit of investigative documents in a sexual misconduct case involving former associate professor James Harwood.

The Kernel has vowed to appeal the decision to the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of Kentucky if necessary.

Judge Clark ruled in agreement with UK that releasing any part of the documents, despite redactions of names and other identifying information, would identify survivors or violate their privacy rights. He wrote in his opinion to the court that under a federal student privacy law, the documents the Kernel requested are exempt from public disclosure.

Here are stories from the Kentucky Kernel and the Lexington Herald-Leader on Judge Clark’s decision.

http://www.kykernel.com/news/judge-rules-in-favor-of-uk-in-harwood-open-records/article_b4a9a306-e25f-11e6-a83c-73ddde751caf.html

http://www.kentucky.com/news/local/education/article128409149.html