By John Greiner
Capitol Bureau

The Oklahoma Supreme Court today rescinded its controversial rules that would limit public access to court information on its Web site and in court files, saying it wanted to give the issue further study and consideration.
 

The rules, which would have been effective June 10, prohibited placing personal information such as Social Security numbers and birth dates on the Web site and in documents for public viewing in courthouse around the state.

The court said the rules were an attempt to balance privacy rights of individuals who use Oklahoma's court system and public access to courts documents.

Criticism and concerns voiced by people about those rules apparently played a role in the court's decision to rescind them.

In a brief statement, the Supreme Court said:

"The Supreme Court of Oklahoma is very aware of privacy and identity theft concerns of individuals related to personal data that may appear on the Court's Web site. We are cognizant that many businesses and individuals rely on the information court clerks have placed on our Web site. Personal privacy balanced with reliable public information is critical for every free society.

"Due to the very important issues for all concerned, the Supreme Court is hereby withdrawing its Privacy and Public Access order... handed down March 11, 2008, to give the issue further study and consideration." Free-speech advocates praised the court's decision to reverse course.

"We're happy that they withdrew the order," said Mark Thomas, executive vice president of the Oklahoma Press Association. "A broad, sweeping closure of massive public records is not the answer to identity theft problems."

Joey Senat, past President of FOI Oklahoma and a journalism professor at Oklahoma State University, said the latest order is "good news for the taxpayers of Oklahoma. It shows that the court realizes that it had not really thought through the issue and had not listened to the people.

"I welcome further discussion on this. That is what should have happened in the first place."

Contributing: The Associated Press