Indiana high court rejects rehearing in lawmaker emails case

The Indiana Supreme Court has declined to rehear a case that sought to force lawmakers to release their email correspondence with lobbying groups and businesses.

Tuesday's order denied a request by consumer advocates for a rehearing following an April ruling that lawmakers can ignore public record requests for those emails and other documents.

Three of the five justices rejected the rehearing request, while Justice Robert Rucker voted for it. Justice Geoffrey Slaughter, who joined the court in June, did not participate.

Slaughter was a private attorney when he represented House Republicans who fought the lawsuit seeking emails between GOP state Rep. Eric Koch of Bedford and utility companies.

Advocacy groups sought the emails following Koch's unsuccessful push last year to cut payments for excess electricity generated by home solar power systems.