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The county is asking a Superior Court judge to hold off on releasing records he granted in a public records lawsuit last week.

In a motion filed last Friday, the county asked that the records not be released to the county Democratic Party until county supervisors meet to discuss the ruling. The board's next scheduled meeting is Jan. 8.

The Pima County Democratic Party sued the county for public records from past elections, including electronic databases from the 2006 primary and general elections.

The case went to trial earlier this month, and Pima County Superior Court Judge Michael Miller ruled the databases should be released to the party.

The party wants to inspect the databases for security flaws, but the county maintained releasing the databases would pose an even greater security risk.

The county is now asking the judge to keep the records protected until the board meets, in case board members decide to appeal the ruling, the motion says.

The supervisors, as a board, are the only group that can take action either to release the records or appeal the decision. They cannot take action except as a group at a public meeting, so such a decision could not be made until the first meeting in January.

The attorney for the Democratic Party said he plans to file a motion opposing the county's request because it doesn't provide reasons for the records not to be released, said attorney Bill Risner.

The deputy county attorney handling the case said the motion was filed just in the event the board decides to appeal.

If the records are released before the board has a chance to decide whether to appeal, an appeal would be more difficult, said Chris Straub, chief civil deputy Pima County attorney.

"All we're trying to do is preserve their options," Straub said.