Judge rules to grant Baltimore Inspector General access to city computer systems
A judge ruled in favor of Baltimore City Inspector General Isabel Cumming on Wednesday, ordering the city to grant Cumming access to its computer systems.
Baltimore Circuit Court Judge Pamela White granted summary judgment in the inspector general's favor in almost every respect during a hearing Wednesday morning, adding she is "deeply disappointed" in the city's arguments in the case.
Latest in OIG legal battle
The ruling is the latest development in an ongoing legal battle between Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and his allies against Cumming. The city and the Inspector General's Office (OIG) have been fighting for months over access to city records.
During Wednesday's hearing, White said there should be more trust in the OIG.
"The element of distrust by the city… for the IG, is not well received by the court. I am not going to play into any notion of distrust by the city for the work or independence for the IG," the judge said.
White also said she will issue an order for city officials to hand over documents related to a youth program.
The documents contain information about the city's Sidestep program, which was overseen by the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (MONSE). Nearly 180 pages of the documents had been redacted by the city after lawyers argued there was information about juveniles and medical records that should be kept out.
The city has argued that it cooperated and resolved the MONSE records request. But OIG attorneys have insisted it had not.
Court ruled case will go on
On Monday, Maryland's Appellate Court rejected a request by Baltimore City to pause legal proceedings in the dispute. The mayor and city council filed a motion for the court to pause the legal process while the city seeks an appeal.
In its ruling, the Appellate Court of Maryland said it was denying the city's motion "because the order in question is not appealable as an order in the nature of an injunction."
The mayor and city council had requested that the appellate court order a halt to legal proceedings in Baltimore City Circuit Court while it pursues an appeal of a lower court ruling.
Speaking to reporters Monday, Scott said he was aware of the appellate court's decision and respected it. The mayor noted that he found it notable that the court said in its opinion that it found the previous order in the matter "wasn't an injunction, which is why they didn't want to hear the appeal at the moment."
