Overview
- Judge Pamela White ruled Wednesday that Inspector General Isabel Cumming must have direct access to Baltimore’s computer systems and that the city must comply with a series of outstanding subpoenas.
- The judge rejected the city’s distrust arguments, said officials offered weak legal reasons for the cutoff, and allowed the city to withhold only records covered by attorney‑client or work‑product protections if it produces a log explaining each withholding.
- Mayor Brandon Scott’s office criticized the decision and said it will review the written order and likely appeal, arguing the inspector general previously had unfettered access and violated privilege claims.
- The inspector general had issued about 19 subpoenas and sought emails from dozens of employees but received only a small share of requested records, a pattern cited by the OIG as a key reason for seeking restored server access.
- The ruling has energized oversight advocates and prompted Maryland local inspectors general to pursue legislative fixes to clarify whether the state Public Information Act limits local OIG access, a move former watchdogs say matters for independent investigations.