News agencies join Iowa City newspaper’s open records suit

The companies publishing The Gazette and Des Moines Register, the Associated Press and three media-based organizations are voicing legal support for the Iowa City Press-Citizen in an open records lawsuit against the University of Iowa.

The Press-Citizen's lawsuit in Johnson County District Court seeks documents from a UI investigation into an alleged sexual assault involving two former Hawkeye football players, Abe Satterfield and Cedric Everson.

Sixth Judicial District Judge Douglas Russell ruled last year that the UI must release about 445 documents untouched and another 685 with student information redacted. The UI appealed to the Iowa Supreme Court, arguing that the documents are confidential.

Agreeing to file a friend of the court brief in support of the Press-Citizen's case are Gazette Communications Inc., the Des Moines Register & Tribune Co., AP, the Iowa Freedom of Information Council, Iowa Newspaper Association and The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.

Satterfield and Everson are charged in an alleged Oct. 14, 2007, assault at a UI residence hall. Both pleaded not guilty and await trial, Satterfield on April 12 for second- and third-degree sexual abuse and Everson on July 12 for second-degree sexual abuse.