Judge: Material in freeway shootings case subject to records law

PHOENIX (AP) -- A judge has ruled that a pending criminal case against a man accused in four Phoenix freeway shootings doesn't preclude consideration of requests for disclosures of related material sought under Arizona's public records law.

Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Warren J. Granville ruled Wednesday that the Arizona Department of Public Safety should apply provisions of the records law to numerous pending requests for materials related to the case.

Granville says some requested records overlap with material disclosed under court rules to attorneys in the pending criminal case. Granville previously ordered that so-called "discovery" material be sealed, and prosecutors then asked for clarification.

But Granville's new ruling says he doesn't have jurisdiction over disclosures of material requested outside the criminal case against Leslie Allen Merritt Jr.

Merritt has pleaded not guilty.