A judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Capital Times newspaper that claimed Gov. Jim Doyle's office improperly delayed the release of public records.

The newspaper claimed Doyle's office stonewalled its attempt to get information about the finalists for three judicial openings last year.

The governor's office released the documents, which included correspondence about the nominees, just 90 minutes before announcing his picks for the openings. A reporter had requested them five weeks earlier.

Dane County Circuit Judge William Foust dismissed the lawsuit after hearing arguments Tuesday. He agreed with Doyle's attorney the lawsuit could not proceed since it was filed after the records were released.