Maine Courts Reverse Course on Sealed Documents

The Maine court system has reversed itself on the sealing of some court records under pressure from a coalition of media groups.

The spokeswoman for the Maine court system said Wednesday that dismissed criminal cases will remain public records as they have been in the past.

Media organizations led by the Sun Journal in Lewiston objected after court officials sealed the records, citing a new interpretation of state law.

The matter came to light thanks to reporting on a manslaughter case. Executive Editor Judy Meyer says the court files disappeared following accusations that prosecutors withheld evidence. The case was dismissed after the defendant died, but the court declined to confirm the dismissal.