Court sets release of Ryan's divorce file

[Freddie Stubbs]

Judge admits son will be harmed

By Michael Martinez and Rick Pearson, Tribune staff reporters. Michael Martinez reported from Los Angeles and Rick Pearson from Chicago. Tribune staff reporters Liam Ford and John Chase also contribut
Published June 18, 2004

LOS ANGELES -- Dealing a blow to the U.S. Senate candidacy of Republican Jack Ryan, a California judge ruled that several sealed divorce records likely to embarrass the candidate and his ex-wife should be opened to the public.

Ruling on a request brought by attorneys for the Tribune and WLS-TV, Superior Court Judge Robert Schnider acknowledged that the resulting publicity from the disclosure would be harmful to the couple's son, a key argument Ryan had raised in seeking to keep the documents from public view.

But Schnider said he had weighed the public interest of disclosure against the private interests of the Ryans and their child. "In the end," Schnider found, "the balance tips slightly to the public.

"They were aware they were in a public court system and protection from embarrassment cannot be a basis for keeping from the public what's put in public courts," said Schnider, referring to Ryan and his ex-wife, actress Jeri Lynn Ryan. Additionally, Schnider said, "the openness of court files must be maintained, so that the public ... can be assured that there is no favoritism shown to the rich and the powerful."

more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0406180364jun18,1,3423709.story?coll=chi-news-hed

[lil-petunia]

1. oh gee

(insert hysterical laughter)

Lions, and tigers and bears, oh my. Lions and tigers and bears.

A repuke friend told me that he attended a meeting of fund-raisers. the little prayer child warned them that there might be a little rough time. This super-christian apparently wasn't.

Hypo hy po h y p o c r i c y ? No matter how you spell it, sure looks as though we will have a decent man in office. yippee!

[David__77]

2. Let's hope there's something good in there!

I remember reading about this earlier. Hopefully Ryan is trying to cover something really damaging.

[lil-petunia]

3. Good news that

Obama is already making news on the coasts as someone to watch.

My bet is that the wife complained that he treated her like a christian woman, you know, like dirt. and that the mental and physical abuse caused the split.

As if we need more Tom DeLays around. Or Trent Lotts, Or newt grinches

[gatlingforme]

4. I could not agree with you more.

I am looking forward to seeing how he spins this ... should be very interesting.