Judge Refuses To Muzzle News Story About Los Angeles Deputies

Prior restraint was your bid? Really?

A union representing Los Angeles Sheriff's Department deputies on Tuesday unsuccessfully sought a court order to stop the Los Angeles Times from publishing information from officers' background screenings.

The union, the Assn. for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, filed an emergency motion against The Times and a Times reporter Tuesday morning, alleging the reporter was unlawfully in possession of background investigation files containing personal information of about 500 deputies.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Joanne O'Donnell denied the union's motion, writing in her ruling that the union failed to present "the evidence most critical to the showing of irreparable harm or immediate danger."