Judge orders release of diary in James Brown estate lawsuit

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- A judge says South Carolina officials must release the diary of James Brown's widow and other documents related to the nearly decade-long fight over the late soul singer's estate.

Circuit Judge Eugene Griffith Jr. on Friday told the state Attorney General's Office it has 10 days to produce the documents, even as it appeals to the state Supreme Court against a July ruling requiring their release. Lawyers for the office had argued the records should be kept from the public during the appeal.

The documents include the diary of Brown's widow, Tomi Rae Hynie, an appraisal of Brown's assets and discussions about how much the state should pay a private law firm for its help in the fight over Brown's estate.

A freelance journalist sued for access to the documents.

(Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)