Ballew v. Chicago Police Department

Illinois Appellate Court
Civil Court
FOIA
Citation
Case Number: 
2022 IL App (1st) 210715
Decision Date: 
Wednesday, August 17, 2022
District: 
1st Dist.
Division/County: 
3d Div./Cook Co.
Holding: 
Affirmed.
Justice: 
GORDON

Plaintiff, a reporter for an independent news organization, alleged that the City of Chicago Police Department failed to comply with a FOIA request to produce documents and videos relating to a 2018 homicide. The police department had claimed that certain records were exempt from disclosure under sections 7(1)(d)(i) and (vii) of the Act. The trial court ruled in favor of the police department, finding that an investigator's affidavit provided clear and convincing evidence that disclosure of the records would interfere with an ongoing investigation. Plaintiff appealed and the appellate court affirmed. (McBRIDE and BURKE, concurring)