A former New Orleans Civil District Court judge appointed as a special master heard arguments today about whether emails between the Archdiocese of New Orleans and the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans should be made public. The emails involve advice that public relations officials with the sports teams gave the church on how to handle the church's sex abuse scandal.
Judge Ellen Hazeur appointed Carolyn Gill-Jefferson to handle the issue. Hazeur is presiding over a lawsuit brought by victims of sex abuse against the archdiocese.
Gill-Jefferson said she would not rule on the motion immediately but would give a recommendation to Judge Hazeur.
The Associated Press filed a motion arguing that due to the high profile nature of the Saints and the church, the community should see emails, which may be used as evidence in a court case pending against the church over the sex abuse scandal.
The emails may eventually end up in the public record if they're admitted as evidence in the lawsuit.
The plaintiffs in that case are claiming he Saints aided the church in a cover-up, by giving advice to the church on how to publicly manage the scandal. The Saints argue their advice was only to be transparent. They also say these emails shouldn't be made public unless and until it is determined the emails will serve as evidence in the lawsuit.