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WHAT POSSIBLE JUSTIFICATION IS THERE FOR KEEPING THIS PUBLIC HEARING SECRET? Secrecy sought in Illi?

By Glenn Reynolds

WHAT POSSIBLE JUSTIFICATION IS THERE FOR KEEPING THIS PUBLIC HEARING SECRET? Secrecy sought in Illinois trooper crash case.

A workers? compensation arbitrator assigned to hear the case of an Illinois state trooper involved in a high-speed crash that killed two teenage sisters sought to keep a public hearing on the case secret.

Authorities say state trooper Matt Mitchell was driving 126 mph, talking on his cell phone and e-mailing when he caused the crash that killed 18-year-old Jessica Uhl and 13-year-old Kelli Uhl of Collinsville on Nov. 23, 2007. He is seeking worker?s compensation because of injuries suffered in the wreck, claiming the crash has left him with limited mobility.

Arbitrator Jennifer Teague wanted to keep the public hearing on his claim secret, according to e-mails obtained by the Belleville News-Democrat through the Illinois Freedom of Information Act.

?We are going to do it on the sly with no press,? Teague wrote in an e-mail to her court reporter.

It’s like the insiders look out for each other instead of the taxpaying public or something.

Full post as published by Instapundit.com on February 10, 2011 (boomark / email).