St. Louis court gets 2006 World Series ticket case

ST. LOUIS -- The Missouri Court of Appeals Eastern District has returned two lawsuits arising from police officers' use of 2006 World Series tickets to a St. Louis court.

The appeals court said Tuesday the trial court should resolve disputes over records concerning a 2006 investigation of police officers who allowed friends and family to use World Series tickets taken from scalpers.

The American Civil Liberties Union is suing for access to the police records, while some officers are suing to keep the records closed, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

The St. Louis Police Officer's Association has argued the documents are private personnel matters. The department also believes the interviews were exempt from the state Sunshine Law.

In 2010, St. Louis Circuit Court Judge Philip Heagney ordered 59 sealed investigative documents to be released, saying police were using exemptions to the Sunshine Law to conceal public records. After the officers sued, the judge placed his ruling on hold and the police board agreed to keep the records closed.

Heagney's order releasing the documents and the board's decision not to release them were both argued before the Eastern District appellate court judges last month.

On Tuesday, the court asked the St. Louis court to try again to settle the differences. Heagney's order will remain in effect for six months, the court ruled.

Eight officers were suspended and demoted after admitting to their role in the scandal. Seven other officers also were disciplined, although the department did not say how or release their names.