ENNIS – The Texas Attorney General’s Office published its ruling last week on Sept. 22 regarding the open case involving Ellis County Commissioner Pct. 2 Matt Zajic.
The ruling was issued directly to the legal counsel representing the City of Ennis.
Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office ruled in favor of the Ennis Police Department stating they are legally permitted to withhold the requested records, which had been sent to the department as a public information request for Zajic’s mugshot.
The request was received by the city on July 7. The request for the Attorney General’s office was made on July 21.
The Ennis Police Department had formally denied the immediate release of the footage and specific case files, citing an ongoing active investigation under Texas Government Code § 552.108(a)(1). Under the Texas Public Information Act, when a governmental body wishes to withhold requested public records using the law enforcement exception, they must automatically seek an official Open Records Decision/Ruling from the Texas Attorney General’s Office to legally justify withholding the data from the public.
The Attorney General agreed that because the case involving Zajic is an active, ongoing criminal investigation and prosecution, releasing the information prematurely would interfere with the detection and investigation of a crime.