A judge has ruled that a videotaped inmate beating and inmate abuse complaints are public records, but he can't order county and state departments to turn them over to the Sun Herald.

The videotaped assault of Jessie Lee Williams Jr. at the Harrison County jail and the grievance records have been seized by the federal government. A protective order from a federal magistrate judge restricts access to the records to parties involved in a trial set for Aug. 6 for four ex-corrections officers.

Attorneys for Sheriff George H. Payne Jr. and the Mississippi Department of Public Safety said they're willing to eventually give the newspaper copies of the records but only with permission from federal authorities.

Chancery Judge Jim Persons issued his rulings today while hearing arguments in the Sun Herald's public records lawsuit. However, Persons said judicial officials handling the related federal criminal case are the proper authority to determine whether allowing the newspaper access to the records would violate the defendants' right to a fair trial. [MORE]