(NewsNation) — No writings from the shooter who killed six people at The Covenant School in Nashville will be released “at this time” after a ruling from the presiding judge.
NewsNation affiliate, WKRN reported Davidson County Chancellor I’ashea Myles issued the ruling late Thursday.
“Tennessee courts have determined that unfettered access to every record at any time does not serve to uphold the system of justice that we all depend upon to ensure that the criminal legal system and investigations remain fair and impartial for every involved person,” Jude Myles wrote in the ruling.
Myles added writing materials from killer Audrey Hale are under federal copyright law, with the shooter’s family given legal ownership of them following their initial seizure.
“Compliance with both the TPRA and federal copyright law cannot be accomplished, therefore state law must cede to federal law.
“Therefore, the materials created by Hale are exempted from disclosure based on the federal Copyright Act.”
Hale killed six people — three of whom were children — on March 27, 2023. In what is a departure from previously similar incidences, the “manifesto” has been unable to be made public.
The 28-year-old transgender shooter was killed by Metro Nashville Police at the school.