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A matter of record Editors group fights Jeb's bill to block Earnhardt photos
Updated: Friday March 09, 2001 10:22 AM
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- A national editors group backed The Orlando Sentinel's attempt to gain access to Dale Earnhardt's autopsy photos and criticized state officials for trying to stop release of the pictures. The American Society of Newspaper Editors, a group of more than 500 of the top newspaper editors nationwide, said Thursday it supports the Sentinel's effort to get the photos so a head trauma expert can make an independent determination of the cause of death of the star driver. The ASNE joined the Society of Professional Journalists and several other news organizations in supporting the Sentinel. ASNE also criticized Gov. Jeb Bush and state lawmakers for proposing a bill that would stop autopsy photos from being considered public record. The group said the legislation could set "the dangerous precedent of closing autopsy records and doing so retroactively." "ASNE believes the Sentinel ... has a clear right to the material," ASNE president Richard Oppel said. "It would be exceedingly unfortunate if this reasonable request were to be used by politicians to decimate the important principle of open government and open public records." Dale Earnhardt died in a crash Feb. 18 at the Daytona 500. Teresa Earnhardt sued Volusia County four days later to stop release of the medical examiner's photos. The next day, a Sentinel reporter made a public-records request for the pictures. The state Senate Criminal Justice Committee will hold its first hearing on the bill Tuesday.
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