BOSTON (AP) — Booking photographs of judges and law enforcement officers who get arrested as well as the police reports connected with their cases are public records, even if the officials are never arraigned in court, the highest court in Massachusetts has ruled.

The Supreme Judicial Court ruled unanimously Thursday that The Boston Globe was entitled to booking photos and reports on police officers arrested on drunken driving charges and the booking photo and report on the arrest of a judge.

Releasing the information is an essential part of assuring public confidence in the judiciary and law enforcement, Chief Justice Ralph Gants wrote in the ruling.

"Such matters implicate not only the integrity of the public officials who allegedly engaged in criminal conduct but also the integrity of our criminal justice system,'' he wrote.

The Globe filed the lawsuit that led to Thursday’s ruling in 2015 after police departments refused to release police reports and booking photographs of police officers accused of drunken driving and a report for a judge accused of stealing a $4,000 watch. A clerk magistrate later refused to issue the criminal charges against the judge.