March 12, 2003

Chief Don Hatcher
Leander Police Department
P.O. Box 319
Leander, Texas 78646-0319

OR2003-1633

Re: Request for case number 300485

Dear Chief Hatcher:

The Office of the Attorney General has received your request for a ruling and assigned your request ID# 180058.

After reviewing your arguments and the submitted information, we have determined that your request does not present a novel or complex issue. Thus, we are addressing your claims in a memorandum opinion. You claim that the requested information may be withheld from the requestor pursuant to section 552.108(a)(1) of the Government Code. We have considered your arguments and the submitted information and have determined that in accordance with section 552.108(a)(1) you may withhold the requested information. We note that the submitted information includes court documents. However, you must release the basic information. Information filed with a court is generally a matter of public record and may not be withheld from disclosure. Gov't Code § 552.022(a)(17); Star-Telegram, Inc. v. Walker, 834 S.W.2d 54 (Tex. 1992).

For more information on the cited exception, as well as information on the rights and obligations of governmental bodies and requestors, please refer to open government information contained on the Office of the Attorney General website at www.oag.state.tx.us. You may also contact our Open Government Hotline at 1-877-OPENTEX.

Enc: Submitted documents

c: Mr. Howard Lynch
1801 Parkwood Drive
Leander, Texas 78641
(w/o enclosures)

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