Rhode Island Top Court to Hear Arguments in Club Fire Case

Rhode Island’s highest court is hearing arguments on whether to release jury questionnaires in the case of Station nightclub co-owner Michael Derderian, who was charged after a 2003 fire that killed 100 people.

The Providence Journal wants access to the more than 13,000 pages of questionnaires filled out by 421 prospective jurors more than two years ago. But the state attorney general’s office says releasing the questionnaires would interfere with jurors’ right to privacy.

It also says the issue’s moot since the case never went to trial.
Derderian and his brother Jeffrey agreed to plead no contest to involuntary manslaughter charges in September 2006 while jury selection was underway.

The state Supreme Court is hearing arguments today.