According to attorneys for a coalition of Asheville-area media outlets, Buncombe County Superior Court Judge Bradley Letts has dismissed claims seeking the release of an Asheville Police Department evidence-room audit.

The audit was the focus of a court hearing on Tuesday, where Letts heard arguments from attorneys for the five plaintiffs — the Asheville Citizen-Times, Carolina Public Press, Mountain Xpress, WCQS and WLOS — and the two defendants, the city of Asheville and the Buncombe County District Attorney’s Office, about whether the document should be released.

No written ruling had been filed as of Thursday afternoon, but one is expected within the next week.

According to the plaintiffs’ attorneys, Letts has also denied the city of Asheville’s request, issued at the hearing, that the media coalition cover the city’s legal fees in the case.

Carolina Public Press will report on Letts’ ruling when it becomes available.

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Jon Elliston is the lead contributing open government reporter at Carolina Public Press. Contact him at jelliston@carolinapublicpress.org.

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