Government Records
Florida Federal Court Releases Redacted Warrant Affidavit in Unprecedented Search of Former President Trump’s Florida Residence
Charles D. Tobin and Elizabeth Seidlin-BernsteinThe news organizations argued that, even in the middle of an investigation and before any indictment, a search warrant affidavit is a judicial record to which the presumption of public access attaches.
Second Circuit Sua Sponte Shrinks Definition of “Agency Records”
Stephen StichThe ruling bowls over text and precedent and is a potential disaster for government transparency.
California Recognizes “Constructive Denial” Doctrine Under Public Records Act
Steven ZansbergThe court’s holding that the reporter was entitled to bring his lawsuit challenging the non-response has far-reaching consequences and has been hailed as a major victory for transparency in California.
Public’s Right of Access to Juror Information Loses More Ground … and What We Can Do About It
Steve ZansbergA recent spate of high-profile cases, across the country, demonstrate that many judges, in both state and federal courts, are of the view that there is no presumption of public access to the names of seated jurors, not only at the outset of a trial, but even post-verdict.
National Nonprofit’s Emails Filed Under Seal Are ‘Plainly Judicial Records’ and Must Be Unsealed
Shannon JankowskiAffirming its well-established precedent on access to judicial records, the Eleventh Circuit recently upheld a district court’s order unsealing internal communications obtained during discovery and filed in connection with a motion for a preliminary injunction.
D.C. Circuit Orders Release of Additional Mueller Report Information
Matt TopicAt issue in the appeal were the names, investigated facts, and explanation of Mueller’s declination decisions for two groups of people: those investigated for campaign finance and computer intrusion offenses, and those investigated for making false statements to the government in the course of the investigation.
Year of Secret Litigation Ends with Complete Media Victory in South Dakota
Jeremy KutnerThe high court held that a state statute prohibiting the sealing of certain warrant information meant what it said, finding that the question “is not a close one.” But the path to the ruling was far from typical.
Case Closed: Alabama Supreme Court Guts Open Records Law
J. Evans BaileyWith this ruling, it appears that the media will only be able to access law enforcement records if law enforcement makes a voluntary disclosure, the records are introduced as exhibits at trial, or, possibly, if the case is already closed. The sweeping ruling stands as a high-water mark for government secrecy of law enforcement records…
Utah Court Rules Journalist Entitled to Names of Lobbyists Hired to Delist Gray Wolf
Jeffrey J. Hunt, David C. Reymann, and Jeremy M. BrodisThe court held that the names of the subcontractors being paid with state funds to lobby for wolf-delisting were not properly classified as protected “trade secrets” or “commercial information,” under Utah’s open records statute, and that in any event the names must be released because the public interest in access outweighs any interests in restriction…
Pushing Back Against NYPD for Violations of Journalists’ Constitutional Rights
Mickey H. Osterreicher and Robert D. BalinIn a recently filed suit, five visual journalists are suing the NYPD for civil rights violations after each journalist was targeted, beaten, or arrested by NYPD officers while attempting to cover the 2020 George Floyd protests in New York City.