Bill would open warrants to public

SPRINGFIELD — A bill introduced in the Illinois House of Representatives would codify a 2007 opinion by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan that search warrants are considered public records unless a court order specifically stipulates otherwise.

The Herald & Review in Decatur reported that state Rep. Michael Zalewski filed the bill late last week.

The Riverside Democrat’s legislation followed recent court decisions that found the public and news media have no right to read search warrants in cases such as the 2009 deaths of five members of a family in Beason in central Illinois. An appellate court in 2010 upheld the judge’s decision in that case.

Madigan’s opinion five years ago said that warrants should be open to public inspection once returned to court unless a judge found a compelling reason to seal them.