Judge grants OPEA temporary restraining order, allows FOI OK, The Oklahoman, others to join in court battle over state workers' birth dates

Oklahoma County Judge Bryan Dixon this morning granted a temporary restraining order stopping the release of state workers' birth dates to The Oklahoman.

The judge also allowed The Oklahoman to intervene as a defendant and FOI Oklahoma, Tulsa World, KWTV, KOTV, the Oklahoma Press Association and the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press to file briefs in support of the public's right to the information.

Dixon also granted requests by the Oklahoma State Troopers Association and the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety to join with the Oklahoma Public Employees Association in seeking the order against the state Office of Personnel Management.

(CJ-2010-2623, Oklahoma Public Employees Association v. Oklahoma Office of Personnel Management)

The Oklahoman is expected to file an answer and a request for a summary judgment next week.

Coverage of hearing: Release of Oklahoma public employee birth dates temporarily halted by judge, By John Estus, The Oklahoman, 4.9.10.

Joey Senat, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

OSU School of Journalism