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public’s right to know

Federal court rules non-residents can be denied Virginia state records

donal brown February 2, 2012

The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that non-residents have no right to Virginia public records under the state’s freedom of information law. Non-residents were challenging the law claiming it was unconstitutional. The two non-residents who sued the state were seeking child support documents and real estate tax assessment records. -db From The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, February 1, 2012, by You-Jin Han. Full story

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Federal judge rules FBI cannot withhold information about informant from Civil Rights era

donal brown February 2, 2012

A federal district judge ruled that the FBI could not use a Freedom of Information Act exclusion in denying access to records about a civil rights era photographer who was an informant for the agency. The judge said the FBI confirmed the relationship with their response to the FOIA request so could not then withhold the records. -db From The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, February 1, 2012, by Rachel Bunn. Full story

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Federal judge rules for public interest group seeking files of criminal investigation of House member

donal brown January 17, 2012

A federal judge in Washington, D.C. found that the Justice Department could not withhold files from the nonprofit Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics of their criminal investigation of U.S. Rep. Don Young of Alaska. The Justice Department did not file any charges against Young and withheld the files on privacy grounds. -db From the Anchorage Daily News, January 11, 2012, by Richard Maurer. Full story

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Editorial: California bill to seal autopsy reports not in public’s interest

donal brown August 4, 2010

A Los Angeles Times editorial argues that a bill in the California legislature to grant families of murdered children the power to keep autopsy reports sealed would prevent public scrutiny that could improve the criminal justice system and protect families. -db Los Angeles Times Editorial August 3, 2010 California lawmakers should reject a bill that would give families of murdered children the power to keep autopsy reports sealed from public view. Although the desire to

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Supreme Court rules names on anti-gay petition can be made public

donal brown June 24, 2010

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled for public disclosure of names on a petition to overturn a gay rights law in Washington state. Those for disclosure say it is an important victory for the public’s right to check signatures and to discover who are supporting particular political stances. -db SeattlePI.com June 24, 2010 By Chris Grygiel The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the names of people who signed petitions in an attempt to overturn a new

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