<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="ggp" article_name="General Provisions" number="4-301" title_number="4" title_name="Public Information Act" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Denials of Inspection">
  <level label="a">
    <text>Subject to subsection (b) of this section, a custodian shall deny inspection of a public record or any part of a public record if:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>by law, the public record is privileged or confidential; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>the inspection would be contrary to:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>a State statute;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>a federal statute or a regulation that is issued under the statute and has the force of law;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>the rules adopted by the Supreme Court of Maryland; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>an order of a court of record.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>If an applicant files a complaint with the Ombudsman challenging a denial or the application of an exemption under this subtitle, the custodian shall demonstrate that:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>the denial or the exemption is clearly applicable to the requested public record; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>if inspection is denied under Part IV of this subtitle, the harm from disclosure of the public record is greater than the public interest in access to the information in the public record.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
