Maine Today Media Inc., d/b/a Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram v. State of Maine
Maine Today Media sought access to 911 records concerning a landlord-tenant dispute that turned deadly. Despite a presumption that 911 records are subject to disclosure, a trial court ruled that the state could withhold the records based on fears that if the records were disclosed, it could potentially harm witness testimony at the criminal trial. On appeal, Maine Today Media argued that the state had failed to demonstrate that such harm was possible. The law firm Bingham McCutchen filed the brief on behalf of the Reporters Committee, which aided in drafting the brief, and several other media organizations. The brief argued that there were many alternatives available to prevent the supposed harm cited by the state and that 911 records were essential to helping the public understand and scrutinize how first responders act in emergencies.