News: Page (1) of 1 - 04/25/12

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ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) ' New York's top court is set to hear arguments on public disclosure of informants and teachers who were subjects of the anti-communist investigations by New York City Board of Education from the 1930s to the 1960s.

Writer and researcher Lisa Harbatkin's (har-BOT'-kin) parents were teachers and were among 1,100 school employees targeted by investigators. She wants the Court of Appeals to uphold her Freedom of Information Law request to see 140,000 pages of records, including names. The hearing is Wednesday.

Lower courts have upheld city officials' decision to let Harbatkin see files on her parents. But, citing privacy, they offered access to the rest only on the condition that she doesn't record or publish those names.

Harbatkin says public interest outweighs that, and her First Amendment rights are being violated.

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