A number of news-related organizations have filed an amici curiae — or “friend of the court” request — for the court case between the Iowa City Press Citizen and the University of Iowa, according to representatives from the organizations.

In October 2009, 6th District Judge Douglas Russell ordered the UI to turn over more than 1,100 documents relating to a sexual-assault investigation involving two former Hawkeye football players.

However, the university appealed the decision to the Iowa Supreme Court.

The lawsuit stemmed from an alleged Oct. 14, 2007, incident in which the football players were accused of sexually assaulting a female student-athlete. Neither of the men has gone to trial yet.

Six news organizations have collectively filed the request: Gazette Communications Inc., the Associated Press, the Des Moines Register & Tribune Company, the Iowa Freedom of Information Council, the Iowa Newspaper Association, and the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, a national organization based in Washington.

— by Sam Lane