By Ed White
Associated Press
DETROIT — A judge says the federal government must turn over mug shots of criminal defendants to the Detroit Free Press.
U.S. District Judge Patrick Duggan says the U.S. Marshals Service has failed to follow previous court decisions in favor of the photos’ release. He suspended his ruling Monday to give the government time to appeal.
The Free Press sued after the Marshals Service rejected a request for photos of police officers accused of corruption. The newspaper noted that an appeals court covering Michigan and three other states had said years ago that mug shots must be released as public records.
But the government has won cases in other courts, based on privacy, and said a blanket policy should apply.
Messages seeking comment were left with the Justice Department.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press