NOT TO BE PUBLISHED 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

93-ORD-145

 

December 15, 1993

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Re: David Lee Blair/Hon. Kelley Asbury, Boyd Circuit Court

 

 

OPEN RECORDS DECISION

 

This matter comes to the Attorney General as an apparent appeal by David Lee Blair as a result of his attempts to persuade the Boyd Circuit Court to order the release to him of various documents apparently in the custody of the King's Daughters' Medical Center.

 

It appears that the Boyd Circuit Court entered an order denying David Lee Blair's motion and he is attempting to invoke the provisions of the Open Records Act (KRS 61.870 to KRS 61.884) as justification and authority for the Attorney General to review what transpired in the circuit court.

 

While there are provisions and procedures to properly bring a denial of a request to obtain public records from a public agency before the Attorney General, none of the requirements of KRS 61.880 have been followed in this situation. There are also procedures to directly appeal a denial of a request to the circuit court (KRS 61.882) and provisions whereby a decision of the Attorney General may be appealed to the circuit court. See KRS 61.880(5) and KRS 61.882. There are, however, no provisions permitting the Attorney General to review a decision or ruling of the circuit court on any matter pertaining to the Open Records Act.

 

In addition, the Open Records Act only applies to public agencies as defined in KRS 61.870(1). If the hospital involved is a private corporation then it is not subject to the terms and provisions of the Open Records Act. See 93-ORD-90, copy enclosed.

 

We, therefore, conclude that there is nothing for this office to review under the Open Records Act as we have no

 

 

 

 

 

93-ORD-145

 

 

authority to review a decision or ruling of the circuit court. No valid appeal under the Kentucky Open Records Act has been presented by David Lee Blair to the Attorney General.

 

David Lee Blair may challenge this decision by initiating action in the appropriate circuit court pursuant to KRS 61.880(5) and KRS 61.882. Pursuant to KRS 61.880(3) the Attorney General should be notified of any action filed in the circuit court, but he shall not be named as a party in that action or in any subsequent proceedings.

 

CHRIS GORMAN

ATTORNEY GENERAL

 

 

 

Thomas R. Emerson

Assistant Attorney General

(502) 564-7600

 

 

sjj/1688

 

Enclosure

 

 

Copies of this decision

have been mailed to:

 

David Lee Blair, 102530 D-1-BL-09

Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex

P.O. Box 636

West Liberty, Kentucky 41472

 

Hon. Kelley Asbury

Boyd Circuit Court

Courthouse

2800 Louisa Street

Catlettsburg, Kentucky 41129