Illinois governor cites N.C. case

Gov. Rod Blagojevich is citing former Gov. Mike Easley's logic.

The Illinois governor is using the outcome of a public records fight in North Carolina to argue that he should not have to release information on clemency cases, the State Journal-Register of Springfield, Ill., reports.

A newspaper in his state is seeking the files, but an attorney for Blagojevich objected to making them public, citing a case decided by the N.C. Supreme Court that said clemency files are property of the governor's office.

In the 2007 case, the North Carolina justices decided that releasing the files would violate the separation-of-powers doctrine in the state constitution. The News & Observer had sued to gain access to the records of decisions on death row inmates and others.

Blagojevich's attorney argued that the Illinois constitution is similar to North Carolina's.

Hat Tip: Jeremy Adams