IG fights back after Scott neuters her powers
Denying city’s motion, judge will not delay Baltimore IG’s access to records
Order decries “continued interference with the Charter responsibilities of the OIG by rejecting lawful subpoenas or refusing to restore the access to City records”
Above: Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and Senior Circuit Court Judge Pamela White.
In blunt language, a judge has denied the Brandon Scott administration’s emergency request to continue blocking the Office of Inspector General’s access to records as the city appeals the court’s initial ruling.
The Appellate Court of Maryland yesterday paused enforcement of Judge Pamela J. White’s order requiring the city to restore the IG’s access to city records and begin responding to subpoenas her office filed.
But White today said she was unconvinced after reading the city’s filings – including an argument that compliance would be very costly – and concluded that no pause should be granted.
“Neither the fact of the Emergency Motion nor the city’s repeated arguments should serve to excuse continued interference with the Charter responsibilities of the Office of Inspector General by rejecting lawful subpoenas or refusing to restore the access to City records denied since January 22, 2026,” White wrote in her two page order.
Today’s decree by White also addressed the backlog of dozens of subpoenas the IG sent to the city, ordering the city to end its foot-dragging and begin responding to them.
White’s September 21 order, she affirmed today, requires “that the City finally respond to lawful subpoenas long outstanding in 2025 and 2026 – with or without privilege logs by the city to identify privileged communications or work product.”
It was the latest twist in the saga that has dominated City Hall politics since January – the Scott administration’s revoking of Inspector General Isabel Mercedes Cumming’s access to records and her response, a private lawsuit to regain the powers of her watchdog office.
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