The Minnesota Supreme Court announced Wednesday that it will hear an appeal from the University in its presidential search lawsuit.

Five media outlets, including The Minnesota Daily, sued the Board of Regents last November, arguing regents broke data practices and open meeting laws by holding confidential interviews with University presidential candidates.

Two lower state courts ruled the regents were not excused from the state laws and required the University to release candidates’ names.

University General Counsel Mark Rotenberg said the case is about the University’s constitutional autonomy and candidates’ privacy.

The Minnesota Supreme Court will also hear from the unsuccessful candidates about their desires to remain anonymous, Rotenberg said. He said he expects the court to hear the case by February or March.

– Branden C. Peterson