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Wolf Puts On Hold Search For Open Records Head Amid Lawsuit

Gov. Tom Wolf is holding off on a search for a permanent director of the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records while a state court considers whether he had legal authority to fire the last one.

Wolf's lawyers said in court filings this week, ahead of a Commonwealth Court hearing next month, that he has delayed the national search "out of respect for the expedited judicial process."

Another new filing, by the Office of Open Records, argues the court should remove it from the case brought by Erik Arneson and the state Senate Republican caucus against Wolf.

Wolf, a Democrat, fired Arneson shortly after taking over from Gov. Tom Corbett, who had named Arneson to the job in mid-January.

The court has to decide whether Arneson worked at the governor's pleasure.