Metro is turning over the Covenant assailant’s writings to a judge. But that doesn’t mean the documents will go public.

Nashville Police is submitting the Covenant school assailant’s writings to a judge for review, in accordance with a court order. It’s the latest move in a court battle over how much of the documents in the Covenant School shooting case should be publicly released.

The judge in the case will receive a redacted and a non-redacted version of the writings on Friday morning. From there, the judge could accept Metro’s proposed redactions, or edit how much of the assailant’s journal will be released to the public. But under the Tennessee Public Records Act, the journal will likely be released in some capacity.

But parents at the Covenant School don’t want anything released. They tell Metro Police that they’re worried the assailant’s writings could inspire more mass shootings.

Metro Law Director Wally Dietz says that’s why the department filed for a status conference.

“We just wanted the family members of the children and adult victims to have an opportunity to be heard about whether these documents should be released,” Dietz says.

The status conference is scheduled for next Thursday.