Two months after her original record request was denied, Hilarie Orman has an appeal hearing Tuesday in front of the Utah County Commission.

Orman, of the Spanish Fork News, has had a few bumps on her way to what should be a routine matter.

As I wrote in October, Orman requested reports on a trespassing case and a motorcycle crash. The Utah County Sheriff's Office denied her request, claiming the reports are protected under the law and therefore not public.

Orman appealed the decision to the Utah County Commission. It should take no more than a couple weeks to schedule an appeal hearing. Here's what happened, according to an e-mail from Orman.

I filed my appeal with the Utah County Commission in mid-October and have called about it weekly since. The county commission forwarded it to Utah County Attorney a few weeks after receiving my fax.

The county attorney's office assigned it to someone on vacation. Then Diane Orcutt, the head of the civil division... told me that she was reviewing the records and that I would hear from her soon, within a few days.

The next week her secretary said that a hearing was being scheduled and that I would hear from her "shortly". The next week I called the county commission asking if the hearing had been scheduled, and they told me it had.

I asked why I hadn't been told and what day and time were involved. They said to call Diane Orcutt. Her secretary said it was for December 9, and that I would hear this from Diane "shortly". I said that I had a business meeting in Boston that day and asked to have it postponed to December 16. They said OK, and took the message. I still have not received any formal notice of a hearing, but I plan to call them next week when I return from Boston.

After Orman's hearing, the commission can order the records released or uphold the sheriff's decision. If Orman is unsatisfied with the commission's ruling, she can appeal to the State Records Committee.

— NC

Labels: GRAMA, Police, Utah County