Baltimore Sun in Court Over Reporter Ban

[Rose Siding]

BALTIMORE -- A judge deciding whether Gov. Robert Ehrlich can bar his staff from talking to two journalists said Friday that the governor has the right to choose whom he associates with, but that the writers should have as much access to state government as other citizens.

U.S. District Judge William Quarles peppered attorneys for the state and The (Baltimore) Sun with questions at a hearing but said he needed more information before he could issue a ruling.

Ehrlich in November directed his staff and at least 19 state agencies to stop talking, returning calls and giving information to Sun writers David Nitkin and Michael Olesker. The governor's office accuses them of bias and inaccuracies.

The Sun, Nitkin and Olesker sued, saying Ehrlich doesn't have the right to decide who can report on state government. The newspaper is asking Quarles to lift the ban temporarily until a decision on the suit is rendered.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-reporters-nixed,0,1261799.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines

[AuntiBush]

1. Good for the Sun

I hope the Sunpapers wins on this one. When you pick on Olesker, you loose me.

Are you from Maryland?

[Rose Siding]

2. No, I'm not but I've enjoyed following this story

All the press must be getting to Ehrlich- I read he had a tantrum before his state of the state speech, accusing others of "assassin politics" (a really inelegant term, imo) even as he used his State House megaphone to blast THEM for it. Ironic.