The issue focused on federal records laws and Justice Department regulations that require law enforcement agencies to produce criminal justice information for civil lawsuits. Law enforcement officials had argued that they did not have the legal authority to release such information.

But lawyers for Mr. Newton said he was legally permitted to share his medical records with prosecutors in court. He also claimed that federal courts had previously rejected claims by attorneys who filed lawsuits claiming their clients' records were illegally withheld.

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At a hearing