Attorneys for the University of Idaho and media outlets are seeking a judge’s decision on whether the school should make public the personnel records of a former psychology professor who committed suicide after shooting and killing a graduate student who had ended her sexual relationship with him. Former professor Ernesto Bustamante killed Katy Benoit at her residence on Aug. 22 and he was found dead the next day.
A District judge is set to hear oral arguments Monday afternoon in Latah County. Idaho public records law says the records of government officials should be generally accessible to the public, with exceptions made for private personnel files. The university is asking the court to decide if that exception extends beyond the official’s death.
