...but still, this all started out as a civil matter. And unless the husband knows something criminal has taken place, or that someone else's rights have been violated, I still think it should be handled as an employee matter. The state does have an interest here, I'm talking about degree. Purely as a practical matter. Or the judge could review them
in camera and make the call. We would be totally overwhelmed if we tried to review all personal data the is improperly sent and/or received on government computers. By setting the precedent, now any spouse who is suspicious of the other, might have a similar legal claim.
And I wonder how quick they'd be ready to open things up if a women was the one demanding access. As I said, it's mostly junk and/or of limited interest. I'm not saying it isn't wrong. Someone could be doing something illegal. That's where the state's interest clearly lies. But where do you draw the line from a practical standpoint?
As for the wife's going along with it well, I'd take that under advisement. She's the perpetrator that started all this, or at least the one that's left. Moss has skedaddled and she's left holding the bag and explaining herself conduct to her husband, the judge -- and now us and everybody. She could be feeling guilty and willing to go along with it for the sake of her marriage, since her actions make it "appear" that she's trying to save it. Or maybe she's being coerced by her husband. Like you said, its a dynamic we don't know about, and it probably factors into this situation.
I guess what puzzles me is that beyond him saying "he just wants them," he hasn't given any other credible reason why that's even necessary if in fact he decided to reconcile with his wife. Why does he need all the gory details? I don't know maybe I'm wrong. But her admission would be enough for me. Its like having snail mail love letters after catching your wife reading them or something. Only in this case, he has to go to court and ask a judge let him take a look at them, instead of stealing them from her purse like all the other guys have to do.