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Update on Gatlinburg wildfires
Sevier County Juvenile Judge Jeff Rader, has issued a new ruling releasing much of the information surrounding the deadly Gatlinburg wildfires in November of last year. The order was issued in response to a request by the state attorney general’s office concerning clarifications on what details the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency could release to the public. Judge Jeff Rader, who will handle the case of the two teens charged with starting the fire, ruled that his gag order applies only to attorneys and court officials in the case who may not release the names of the teens. “Specifically, the order was directed to the District Attorney General’s Office for the Fourth Judicial District of Tennessee, the attorneys representing each of the defendants, and all respective agents of the parties. This Court did not intend to direct or address the actions of any other entities or parties not specifically involved in these cases,” Judge Rader's order says. Not much information has been released to the public. Survivors continue to hope for answers about what happened in the days leading up to the fire and the response afterward. Autopsy reports on the 14 victims of the fires also have not been released. TEMA is gathering thousands of documents to review confidentiality, responsiveness and cost estimates. “TEMA, working through legal counsel and with the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office, requested the ruling from the Sevier County Juvenile Court to clarify what records we could share without violating or being in contempt of the Court’s original order to withhold records,” says TEMA Director Patrick Sheehan. "We did this to ensure we would not endanger any ongoing investigations and prosecutions, nor interfere with the right of the accused to receive a fair trial under law."
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Return to Today's News Stories - Front PageThursday, April 29, 2021
US 411 Project News
Mill Creek Wildfire Update
More Bad News For Smokies' Fans
Wednesday, April 28, 2021
Mill Creek Wildfire doubles in size
Goodbye Smokies?
Keep Cocke County Beautiful
Cocke Co. High School Remote Learning today!
Tuesday, April 27, 2021
The fireflies are coming!
Burnout Operations on MillCreek wildfire today
Gas prices drop
Tennessee keeps all US House seats
Monday, April 26, 2021
Boat accident victim ID'd
Traffic stop yields drug arrest
Cocke County Wildfires
Friday, April 23, 2021
Leaving WNPC
Mathis announces candidacy
Newport drug roundup
Cruise Against Cancer
Jobless numbers
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