Ventura County officials failed to comply with California Public Records Act by refusing to turn over public records related to the pandemic.
Public access to the judicial system is a necessary element in a constitutional democracy. The idea behind “We the People” — the notion that the people are sovereign — assumes that the people govern their institutions. For the judicial system, that means the public and press must be able to attend proceedings and access records used to determine consequential moments in people’s lives. The Supreme Court has said that this right to access our courts
Our priorities for the 2021 California Legislative session focus on advancing police transparency, strengthening press protections and opposing government secrecy.
“The widespread use of rubber bullets and tear gas against protesters following the death of George Floyd have made it clear that limitations on the use of these tactics are necessary.”
Local governments could abuse the provisions of AB 361 and evade the Brown Act’s transparency requirements if they declare a local emergency.
