Des Moines, IA ( Radio Iowa)– Iowa’s highest court has heard arguments in a request by the state to dismiss a lawsuit against Governor Kim Reynolds over the release of public records during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The records were released 18 months after the request when the lawsuit was filed by the Iowa ACLU on behalf of journalists seeking the records. Eric Wessan who is representing the governor says the administration followed the law in that it never denied the request.

Chief Justice Susan Christensen says this approach could require anyone requesting open records to eventually hire a lawyer which could be beyond the financial reach for some individuals.

Thomas Story, the attorney for the ACLU says the state should not be allowed to stall the process and force a lawsuit.

The Iowa Supreme Court will issue its ruling on the matter at a later date.