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Missouri Supreme Court considering whether senators violated Sunshine Laws

David Shane
/
Flickr

JEFFERSON CITY - The Missouri Supreme Court is considering a claim that state senators violated the Sunshine Law by barring some people from taking videos at committee meetings.

The court heard arguments Wednesday in a case brought by Progress Missouri. The liberal group was denied permission to record videos in four Senate committee hearings last February and March.

Its lawsuit claims the Senate violated the open-meeting requirements of the state Sunshine Law.

Progress Missouri is appealing the dismissal of its case by Cole County Circuit Judge Jon Beetem. He said last summer that the Missouri Constitution gives the Legislature power to set its own rules. Beetem said a Senate rule requiring approval from committee chairmen to record meetings was not subject to judicial review.