The university also said it was under no obligation to provide a reporter with the Star-Tribune a “privilege log” — or a list of the documents that were denied, with specific reasons for doing so — under state law, a claim the media organizations’ attorney, Bruce Moats, disputed in an interview Monday afternoon.

“It’s covered by litigation that went up to the Wyoming Supreme Court, which interpreted that was required by the Public Records Act,” Moats said. “That was interesting — I had not anticipated that one.”

Some of the documents could be revealed during hearings on the case, which are anticipated to take place sometime in early October. To make a ruling on whether the university was right in withholding personnel files, the judge would likely have to review the documents in question. He could then disclose the content of those records before making a ruling, Moats said.

“Like everybody else, I don’t know what’s in the content,” Moats said. “That always makes it harder to judge sometimes. But I certainly think it is appropriate for the judge to review this information and make a determination, to review the records and decide whether the public should know about this or not.”

Follow politics reporter Nick Reynolds on Twitter @IAmNickReynolds

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