Mitch's free press

This is interesting but not in the way you might think.

The City of New Orleans is asking a judge to bar NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune from "disclosing any information" or "contacting any individuals identified" in a police report about a Texas woman's allegations that she was raped by a security guard in a French Quarter hotel after Mardi Gras this year. The woman has also joined the city's request.

The city cites concerns about privacy and an ongoing investigation and claims the news organization should not have been permitted to view the report.

NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune is opposing the city's request, noting the public's legitimate interest in the workings of the New Orleans Police Department, which is operating under a federal consent decree and recently was harshly criticized by an Inspector General's report on investigations into sexual assault and child abuse. NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune does not usually name victims of sex crimes and has not named the woman in this case.

What's interesting is that Mitch actually went to a judge to get them not to publish something.  Usually he just asks them nicely over lunch and that works out fine.