Autopsy records are public in Pa.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that autopsy records must be made available to the public despite privacy concerns. Judges, however, can withhold records based on "discretion and necessity."

The state Supreme Court ruled today that autopsy reports are public records.

In a 5-1 decision, the state's top court overturned a lower court ruling and wrote that under the state's Coroner's Act autopsy reports should be considered "official records and papers" and made available to the public.

The case stemmed from two newspapers, The Morning Call and Express-Times, who sued after Lehigh County Coroner Scott Grim refused to provide a copy of an autopsy report of a police officer who had been shot and killed.

More here.