BALTIMORE — A Baltimore City Circuit Court judge has delivered a significant blow to Mayor Brandon Scott’s administration, denying an emergency request to continue blocking the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) from accessing city records.
On Thursday, Judge Pamela White ruled that the city must immediately restore the OIG’s access to municipal systems and comply with pending subpoenas, even as the city proceeds with its broader appeal of the case. In her sharp rebuke of the administration, Judge White stated that the city’s recurring legal arguments do not justify “continued interference” with the OIG’s charter-mandated responsibilities. Furthermore, the judge ordered that the records must be produced without redaction or limitation.
The ruling marks the latest development in a high-stakes transparency battle that began eight months ago when the Scott administration revoked the OIG’s direct access to city files. Inspector General Isabel Cumming filed suit in February, alleging that City Hall was obstructing her office’s investigations by refusing to comply with subpoenas and limiting access to vital information.
The city has staunchly defended its position, arguing that providing the OIG with unfiltered access violates attorney-client privilege and risks exposing sensitive personal data and whistleblower identities. In recent filings, city attorneys warned that complying with the court’s order would be a massive, costly undertaking. The administration estimated that reviewing more than 2 million emails and documents to protect legally privileged information would require the hiring of 175 attorneys, costing taxpayers between $1.9 million and $3.6 million.
Judge White’s ruling upholds her own September 21 mandate, which required the city to provide the records. The administration had briefly secured a temporary stay from an appellate judge on Wednesday, which spared them from an immediate deadline to hand over the data, but the relief was short-lived. Thursday’s decision by the Circuit Court effectively resets the clock, placing the burden back on City Hall to grant the requested access.
The conflict stems from a fundamental disagreement over legal authority. During a hearing in July, city attorneys argued that the Public Information Act should supersede the Inspector General’s subpoena power. The court has repeatedly rejected these claims, with Judge White previously dismissing the city’s arguments as lacking any sound legal or factual basis.
The standoff has paralyzed portions of the OIG’s oversight work, leaving investigators to rely on limited documentation rather than the direct system access they maintain is essential to preventing fraud, waste, and abuse.
It remains unclear when the city intends to reinstate the OIG’s access or whether the mayor’s office will seek further intervention from higher courts to stall the implementation of the judge’s order. As of Thursday evening, the mayor’s office had not announced a change in policy, leaving the immediate future of the oversight investigation in legal limbo.
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