A state Court of Appeals commissioner said Friday that she will decide by Tuesday on requests from a Federal Way Municipal Court judge who’s been trying to prevent release of information about his oversight of an allegedly hostile workplace.
Judge Michael Morgan wants the court commissioner, Mary Neel, to stay previous court rulings that ordered release of the hostile workplace investigation, as well as two e-mails.
Morgan wants the report and e-mails to remain sealed while he appeals King County Superior Court Judge Kimberley Prochnau’s previous rulings to release the documents.
Prochnau ruled March 19 that the investigative report can be released to The News Tribune because it was not subject to attorney-client privilege. She also ruled the two e-mails, sent by Morgan to a court staff member and to City Attorney Pat Richardson, could be unsealed. But Prochnau had put both rulings on hold until Wednesday to give Morgan time to appeal and file for another stay.
At a hearing Friday, Neel said she will make her decisions by the end of Tuesday.
The City of Federal Way wants Morgan to pay $36,715 for its private attorneys in the dispute. John Schochet, one of Morgan’s attorneys, said the judge wants the city to pay for his legal costs – as well as the city’s – because Morgan represents the city’s Municipal Court.
Steve Maynard, The News Tribune
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