Tennessee Appeals Court Rules Covenant School Shooter's Writings Can Be Made Public
A Tennessee appeals court has issued a significant ruling, determining that the writings of the individual responsible for the deadly 2023 Covenant School shooting in Nashville can be made available to the public. This decision overturns a previous lower court ruling from 2024 that had sided with parents seeking to keep the documents sealed.
Years-Long Legal Battle Over Public Access
The ruling on Wednesday is part of an extensive legal dispute concerning public records related to the tragic shooting that claimed six lives. The shooter left behind various documents, including journals, a suicide note, and a memoir, which have been at the centre of this contentious legal fight. A group of Covenant School parents has vigorously opposed the release of these materials, expressing concerns that public access could further traumatise their children and potentially inspire copycat attacks.
However, the Tennessee Court of Appeals has now overturned much of the 2024 opinion that supported the parents' position. The court emphasised the importance of the Tennessee Public Records Act, describing it as "a tool to hold government officials and agencies accountable to the citizens of Tennessee through oversight in government activities."
Court Rejects Broad Interpretation of School Safety Exception
The lower court's 2024 ruling had determined that the Covenant shooting records fell under an exception to the Public Records Act because they were related to school safety. The appeals court, however, found this interpretation to be overly broad. In its written opinion, the court stated, "We are asked to accept at face value the trial court’s finding that every single item compiled or created by the shooter, for many years before the event at issue, relates to the Covenant School’s security. This conclusion strains credulity."
The appeals court also addressed copyright concerns raised in the case. The shooter's parents had transferred ownership of the documents to the Covenant families in 2024 as part of efforts to keep the records closed, arguing they should control access. The court opined that even if some records are protected by copyright law, Metro Nashville Police could still allow public inspection without violating legal protections. "The trial court and the Parents, however, conflate the concept of access for inspection with reproduction and display," the court noted.
Potential Precedent and Ongoing Legal Proceedings
This court battle could establish important precedents for how similar records are handled in cases involving school shootings across the United States. However, it may not substantially alter what the public already knows about this specific case, as many documents have previously been made public through leaks or separate public records requests and lawsuits. The full investigative report from Nashville police remains sealed at this time.
The appeals court has sent the case back to the lower court to amend the 2024 ruling. The Covenant parents now have 60 days to decide whether to appeal this latest decision. Their attorney, Eric Osborne, confirmed in an email on Thursday that they have not yet determined their next course of action.
Remembering the Victims
The March 2023 shooting at the private Christian elementary school claimed the lives of three nine-year-old children: Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs, and William Kinney. Three adults also lost their lives: Cynthia Peak, 61; Katherine Koonce, 60; and Mike Hill, 61. The community continues to grapple with the aftermath of this tragedy as legal proceedings unfold regarding the shooter's writings and their potential public release.
