Judge seals documents in battle over coin dealer's attorneys
The Associated Press
June 26, 2006

Prosecutors in the case of a major GOP fundraiser accused of stealing from a state investment in rare coins tried to have his attorneys disqualified, but a judge sealed court documents explaining why.

Court papers released Friday refer to the request. Additional documents outlining the details were ordered sealed by Lucas County Common Pleas Judge Thomas J. Osowik, The Columbus Dispatch reported. Under the state's Open Records Act, the newspaper has requested all sealed documents.

William Wilkinson, an attorney for Toledo-area coin dealer and fundraiser Tom Noe, declined to comment, as did assistant Lucas County prosecutor John Weglian.

A legal expert said judges have discretion when it comes to sealing court records but questioned why Osowik hasn't explained his decision.

"It's a fundamental right," said Christopher M. Fairman, an associate law professor at Ohio State University's Moritz College of Law. "We as citizens of the United States and Ohio expect that our government officials, judges included, do things in the public eye. Court records are public unless there's good reason to keep away access."