Federal Subpoenas On Boston City Hall Will Not Be Released, Judge Rules

BOSTON (CBS) - Mayor Marty Walsh's administration will not have to release any federal subpoena documents served on City Hall, a Suffolk County Superior Court judge ruled on Tuesday.

The decision by Judge Robert N. Tochka is tied to a lawsuit The Boston Globe filed in an ongoing battle to get public records surrounding a federal corruption probe at Boston City Hall.

Earlier this month, Judge Tochka determined the records would be released unless the US Attorney's Office objected. The deadline for federal prosecutors to respond was Tuesday.

According to the case docket, the legal argument submitted by federal prosecutors will also remain under seal because "revelation of its contents to either the parties or the public would, like the documents requested by the Globe, potentially impair any grand jury investigation."

The Walsh administration had declined to acknowledge whether the mayor or other city leaders had received any federal subpoenas. The city had denied public records requests, including a similar one by WBZ-TV.

"The City respects the judicial process and will comply with the order of the court," said Laura Oggeri, a spokeswoman for Mayor Walsh.

According to a letter sent to the US Attorney's office, an attorney said the City of Boston intended to fulfill the records request unless federal prosecutors objected.

"The City has had to weigh that duty to the public against the competing duty to not interfere with the important and essential work of your office," the letter stated.

A spokeswoman for US Attorney Carmen Ortiz declined to comment.

In May, Boston's top tourism official was arrested and charged with union-related extortion.

Kenneth Brissette pleaded not guilty. He is accused of withholding city permits for a music festival until it hired union members.

Ryan Kath can be reached at rkath@cbs.com. You can follow him on Twitter or connect on Facebook.