On Tuesday, a judge signed a divorce decree ending the 50-year marriage between Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley and his wife Dianne. The decree was signed one day after the Bentleys submitted an agreement to divide their assets and one month after Mrs. Bentley filed for divorce due to an “irretrievable breakdown.”

Details in the now-settled divorce were also unsealed by Tuscaloosa County Circuit Judge Philip Lisenby.

All details of the divorce, including the initial filing, had been previously closed and only available to the Bentleys, their attorneys and court employees.

On Monday, Gov. Bentley issued a statement saying their position had changed and the records would be open.

“Dianne and I have reached a mutual agreement in our proceedings,” Bentley said. “I have asked Judge Philip Lisenby to unseal settlement documents so the public and the media will have full access to it.”

Making the records public was the right decision and should have been done all along given Bentley’s position as governor of Alabama.

More than 99 percent of divorce cases were open to the public in 2014 in Alabama. Such is precedent in this state and there was never any reason to do differently in this case.

The governor’s personal life affects his ability to do his job and could undermine his integrity, credibility and moral authority to govern. The records had to be released, and we are glad Bentley saw that.