Judge rules Democratic lawmaker must be allowed to attend Kennedy Center board meeting

The judge, however, did not guarantee that Rep. Joyce Beatty could vote in next week's meeting, which is expected to focus on a planned two-year closure of the center.

A federal judge ruled Saturday that a Democratic lawmaker who serves on the Kennedy Center board must be given a chance to participate in an upcoming meeting on plans to temporarily close the performance venue.

Rep. Joyce Beatty of Ohio, who is opposed to the planned two-year closure for renovations sought by President Donald Trump, filed a lawsuit that included a request that she be allowed to take part in Monday’s board meeting at the White House, where the $200 million project is on the agenda. It also said she needed to receive details from the board about the renovation plans set for discussion.

“Beatty faces the risk of irreparable harm without the Court’s intervention, especially because once the meeting comes and goes without a meaningful ability for her to consider the issues and weigh in, that injury cannot be undone,” U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper said in Saturday’s ruling.

The judge also ruled that Beatty must be provided certain readily available information about the planned closure in advance of the meeting.

“The Court has little trouble concluding that Beatty’s lack of access to core information about the Kennedy Center’s closure and reconstruction plans will cause her irreparable harm,” Cooper wrote, adding that the lawmaker “has not received any information from her co-trustees, Board leadership, or staff as to even the basic scope of the work that is planned for the Kennedy Center — whether it turns out to be modest renovation, complete demolition and rebuilding, or something in between.”