Image Credit: judgeiasheamyles / Instagram & @scrowder / X
The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –
At 11:58pm on July 4th, 2024, Tennessee Chancellor I’Ashea Myles finally filed her 60-page ruling on whether the Nashville Covenant School shooter’s writings can be released to the public.
This ruling comes after over a year of public demand for the release of documents collected by Metro Nashville Police during the initial investigation of the March 2023 Covenant School shooting, which resulted in the deaths of three nine-year-old students and three adults before the shooter was stopped and killed by police.
According to The Tennessean, one of various petitioners in the lawsuit against Metro Nashville and Davidson County, “Myles was swayed in part by a novel argument brought by a group of Covenant School families” who argued that the shooter’s writings were protected by copyright laws.
Some of the other petitioners in the lawsuit included The Tennessee Firearms Association, Michael P. Leahy, Star News Digital Media, and Sen. Todd Gardenhire (R-Chattanooga-District 10).
Back in June of 2023, the shooter’s parents announced that they intended to transfer ownership of the shooter’s writings to a group of Covenant families.
Many have speculated that this was done to keep the documents private.
Myles’ decision validates this transfer of ownership and allows the families of the Covenant victims to assert a copyright interest in the documents.
The chancellor acknowledged that claiming copyright as an exception to the Tennessee Public Records Act was a “novel argument” not ruled on by previous courts but she ultimately agreed with the concept.
Another argument made by Covenant families in this case was that release of the shooter’s writings could encourage copycat shooters.
Myles found the risk of copycat shootings to be real and of “grave concern.”
“Hale used the writings of other perpetrators in similar crimes to guide how this plan was constructed and accomplished, mimicking some not only in their methodology, but also choice of weapons and targets,” wrote Myles. “Hale even held past perpetrators out as heroes in their attacks, idolizing them.”
Since the filing of Myles’ ruling, multiple parties have released statements of both praise and criticism.
The family of a Covenant substitute teacher, Cynthia Peak, who was killed by the shooter wrote, “The last year and a half without Cindy has been difficult. But today brings a measure of relief in our family. Denying the shooter some of the notoriety she sought by releasing her vile and unfiltered thoughts on the world is a result everyone should be thankful for.”
Executive Director for the Tennessee Coalition for Open Government, Deborah Fisher, made a statement warning that Myles’ ruling could have “far-reaching implications” that work against transparency and make it easier to hide evidence of crimes from the public.
“To say that evidence collected by police can be copyrighted by the criminal, or the surviving parent or spouse of the criminal,” said Fisher, “does not bode well for the transparency of the police or the judicial system.”
Myles’ ruling prevents many of the shooter’s writings from being released to the public, however, other documents currently in police custody could technically be released once the case is closed if they fall under Tennessee’s open records law.
“It is too early to evaluate whether there will be any appeal,” said attorney Doug Pierce, who wrote in an email that they are waiting to see what documents Metro police provides once the investigation is officially complete.
About the Author: Adelia Kirchner is a Tennessee resident and reporter for the Tennessee Conservative. Currently the host of Subtle Rampage Podcast, she has also worked for the South Dakota State Legislature and interned for Senator Bill Hagerty’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee. You can reach Adelia at adelia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
5 Responses
Absolute BS!!!!!!!!! They just don’t want the obvious mental illness jumping off those pages for all to see, she was a poster child of what the Left is doing to them in school and on social media. Funny how this sort of thing NEVER occurred when I was in school, and I am a GenXer.
If this is true and lawful which it is NOT. I hope the families auction the contents off and use the money to get rid of Liberal judges and politicians like you!
Can the copyright document be shown to prove such claim is true?
No document – no claim.
Maybe I had copyright before the parents did?
Just another Liberal Democrat judge giving her own opinion not the law. I for one am sick of the liberal lawyers and judges. And also the Democrats platforms.
Just another Liberal Democrat judge giving her own opinion not the law. I for one am sick of the liberal lawyers and judges. And also the Democrats platforms.
I beg your pardon, have not already said that.