State Supreme Court to Hear Case of Midtown Journalist

A Midtown resident and journalist in October will go before the state's highest court. 

The Supreme Court of Georgia on Monday agreed to hear a case that Matthew Cardinale, editor of Atlanta Progressive News, filed in May 2010. 

The lawsuit alleges that the Atlanta City Council participated in a secret vote over the issue of limiting public comment during their council retreat in February 2010.

The suit was "almost immediately dismissed" in Fulton County Superior Court and the Georgia Court of Appeals, Cardinale said. 

But now Cardinale has a second chance. If the state Supreme Court rules in his favor, the lawsuit will go back to Fulton County Superior Court (Read more about the case here). 

"I'm very excited," Cardinale said Wednesday evening. "People discouraged me from filing this" petition to the state Supreme Court.

"If you engage the process ... sometimes the Supreme Court will hear you. That's great for citizens to know."

Cardinale also has another lawsuit on the table.

In May 2011, the journalist filed a lawsuit in Fulton County Superior Court that alleges the city and some council members are violating the Georgia Open Meetings Act by holding closed-door briefings before committee meetings ().

Cardinale said hearings on that case will begin in August.