NEW HAVEN, Conn. — The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Tuesday against a Roman Catholic diocese in Connecticut, saying that thousands of documents generated by lawsuits against six priests accused of sexual abuse cannot remain sealed.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Tuesday denied the Bridgeport diocese's request to continue a stay on the release of the papers until the full court decides whether to review the case.
Ralph Johnson III, a lawyer for the diocese, said church officials were considering whether to ask all nine justices to rule on the request.
The diocese said on its Web site Tuesday afternoon that it was disappointed with Ginsburg's decision and that it "intends to proceed with its announced determination to ask the full U.S. Supreme Court to review the important constitutional issues that this case presents."
Jonathan Albano, attorney for three newspapers that requested the documents, said the ruling compels the diocese to release the documents, but he acknowledged that the church could ask the full court to reconsider Ginsburg's decision.
Albano represents The New York Times, The Boston Globe, and The Washington Post. The three papers along with the Hartford (Conn.) Courant have asked to see the documents.
A Waterbury Superior Court said in 2006 that the documents were subject to a presumption of public access.
The Connecticut Supreme Court upheld the lower court decision, ruling that more than 12,000 pages from 23 lawsuits against the six priests should be unsealed.
The records have been under seal since the diocese settled the cases in 2001.
Front Section, Pages 4 on 08/26/2009