Case Involving JEDCO Emails Reset

After a 45 minute pretrial conference, Judge Glenn Ansardi has continued the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) regarding Kenner Businessman Henry Shane’s claim that his emails to and from retired JEDCO Executive Director Lucien Gunter are not subject to public records law.

Gunter resigned after an internal audit uncovered several transgressions and improprieties including his use of a JEDCO email address to promote and fundraise for several Jefferson Parish School Board candidates. Shane is the principal supporter of a new charter school in Kenner.

The Times-Picayune and The Advocate newspapers had requested access to the emails. Shane filed a lawsuit claiming that he and Gunter were also members of additional groups that were not covered by the public records law.

The Times-Picayune also had an attorney involved in today’s proceedings and raised the issue of whether Mr. Shane had any legal standing to object to the release of the emails. Since JEDCO is a quasi-government arm of Jefferson Parish, the T-P's attorney argued that the parish should have the ultimate jurisdiction over the release.

In the end, Judge Ansardi reset the case for February 19^th and extended the TRO until at least then.