rpm.espn.com: Sentinel gains more support

Standings

Results

Schedule

Drivers

" onclick="oMenu.menumain(5); return false" class="clAoMenuMain">

Supercross

IROC

ESPN Network: ESPN.com \| RPM \| NFL.com \| NBA.com \| NHL.com \| ESPNdeportes \| ABCSports \| EXPN \| FANTASY

Start your engines!
Play RPM.ESPN Stock Car Challenge!

Win a Honda S2000!
Play The CART Challenge powered by Honda!

Friday, March 9
Sentinel gains more support
Associated Press

ORLANDO, Fla. – A national editors group backed the Orlando Sentinel's attempt to gain access to Dale Earnhardt's autopsy photos and criticized state officials for trying to stop release of the pictures.

The American Society of Newspaper Editors, a group of more than 500 of the top newspaper editors nationwide, said Thursday it supports the Sentinel's effort to get the photos so a head trauma expert can make an independent determination of the cause of death of the star driver.

The ASNE joined the Society of Professional Journalists and several other news organizations in supporting the Sentinel.

ASNE also criticized Gov. Jeb Bush and state lawmakers for proposing a bill that would stop autopsy photos from being considered public record. The group said the legislation could set "the dangerous precedent of closing autopsy records and doing so retroactively."

"ASNE believes the Sentinel ... has a clear right to the material," ASNE president Richard Oppel said. "It would be exceedingly unfortunate if this reasonable request were to be used by politicians to decimate the important principle of open government and open public records."

Dale Earnhardt died in a crash Feb. 18 at the Daytona 500. Teresa Earnhardt sued Volusia County four days later to stop release of the medical examiner's photos. The next day, a Sentinel reporter made a public-records request for the pictures.

The state Senate Criminal Justice Committee will hold its first hearing on the bill Tuesday.

Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories

	Man changes story on Earnhardt autopsy photos Governor wants to keep autopsy photos private Lawmakers hope to block release of Earnhardt photos Litke: Not the time to look away Teresa Earnhardt makes plea against release of photos Newspaper feels wrath over autopsy photos Arute: Earnhardts have right to privacy Attorneys discuss deal on Earnhardt autopsy photographs