Montana Supreme Court to hear suit in rape case

MISSOULA – The Montana Supreme Court will hear arguments April 27 on author Jon Krakauer’s lawsuit to obtain the disciplinary records of a former University of Montana quarterback accused of rape.

Krakauer, author of “Into the Wild,” contends the records must be released in order for the public to understand what the college is doing to protect students from sexual assault.

State attorneys for the Montana Commissioner of Higher Education, Clayton Christian, argue that releasing educational records pertaining to Jordan Johnson without consent could threaten Montana’s federal education funding.

Johnson, who graduated last year, was accused of raping a female student in 2012. He was acquitted in state court.

Before the acquittal, a university court had recommended expulsion of an unnamed student – later identified as Johnson – after concluding the rape had occurred. However, the student was never expelled.

The Missoulian reported that Krakauer argues the public has the right to know the reason Johnson wasn’t expelled from UM.