In a recent ruling, Chancery Court Judge I'Ashea Myles determined that the writings of Audrey Hale, the individual responsible for the tragic shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville last year, will not be made available to the public. Hale, a former student, killed three 9-year-old children and three adults at the private Christian elementary school before being fatally shot by the police.

The judge found that the copyright to any writings or works created by the shooter now belongs to The Covenant School children and parents. To ensure the records remain closed, Hale's parents transferred ownership of her property to the families of the victims. The victims' families, in turn, argued that they should have the authority to decide who gains access to the materials.

Although the argument of claiming copyright as an exception to the Tennessee Public Records Act was a novel one, Myles sided with the parents' group. She determined that "the original writings, journals, art, photos, and videos created by Hale are subject to an exception to the TPRA created by the federal Copyright Act."

This ruling comes more than a year after multiple organizations filed public records requests for documents seized by the Metro Nashville Police during their investigation into the March 2023 shooting. The victims were 9-year-olds Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs, and William Kinney, as well as adults Cynthia Peak, Katherine Koonce, and Mike Hill.

The interest in obtaining these records stems, in part, from speculation that Hale, who was identified as transgender, may have been planning a hate crime against Christians. However, the judge's decision effectively preserves the privacy of Hale's writings and prevents the potential release of any hateful or controversial content.

Families of the victims welcomed the ruling, expressing a sense of relief. Cindy Peak's family released a statement stating, "Denying the shooter some of the notoriety she sought by releasing her vile and unfiltered thoughts on the world is a result everyone should be thankful for."

According to court filings, the shooter left behind approximately 20 journals, a suicide note, and a memoir. Several parties sued when the records requests were denied, leading to a complex legal battle involving conspiracy theories, leaked documents, probate disputes, and allegations of ethical misconduct. It is likely that Myles' order will be appealed.

In addition to the copyright claims, The Covenant School parents argued that the release of the documents could be traumatizing and potentially inspire copycat attacks. Judge Myles acknowledged the risk of copycat behavior, expressing "grave concern" over the issue. She stated that Hale had referenced past perpetrators of similar crimes and idolized them, mimicking their methods, choice of weapons, and targets.

Deborah Fisher, the executive director of the Tennessee Coalition for Open Government, raised concerns about the broader implications of Myles' ruling. Fisher warned that it could set a precedent that enables the hiding of evidence from the public, compromising the transparency of the police and judicial systems.

As the legal battle continues, it remains to be seen how the case will unfold and whether any future decisions will affect the accessibility of such records in similar situations.