The Supreme Court of Ohio has ruled that expense records related to state troopers providing security for Governor Mike DeWine during the 2022 Super Bowl are not available to the public. The decision was made in a 4-3 ruling, where the court determined that these records are classified as security documents because they were used to develop future protection plans for the governor.
The Cincinnati Enquirer had sought a writ of mandamus to compel the release of these records, which included expenses such as overtime pay, airline tickets, meals, hotels, and vehicle rentals incurred by troopers and staff accompanying Gov. DeWine. However, the court denied this request.
Chief Justice Sharon L. Kennedy wrote a concurring opinion clarifying how this case differs from previous rulings regarding security record classification. She noted that unlike past cases where evidence was lacking, this time there was sufficient testimony showing how these records are used in planning future security measures.
Justice Michael P. Donnelly dissented, arguing that financial records should be considered public and released since they do not directly relate to maintaining security. He emphasized that requests for public records should generally favor disclosure unless compelling reasons dictate otherwise.
The Department of Public Safety argued that disclosing such information could reveal patterns or techniques used in protecting the governor and potentially compromise his safety. Expert testimonies supported this claim by highlighting how potential aggressors might exploit disclosed information.
Despite dissenting opinions emphasizing transparency and public right-to-know principles, the majority found enough justification under Ohio law's security record exemption to keep these records confidential.