From WIS: FAIRFIELD COUNTY, SC (WIS) – A WIS investigation into allegations that the Fairfield County administrator had disseminated pornography from his tax payer-funded computer has ended with a $29,395 Freedom of Information Act charge.
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Read More… from Pornographic email investigation: WIS asks for records, gets $30K bill instead
From The Detroit News: Under state law, the only time the public gets to peek inside the inner workings of the Governor’s Office is when its staffers send emails to employees of other state agencies, which are subject to the Freedom of Information Act.
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Read More… from Political insider: Gov’s staff emails have scent of ‘skunk works’
Robert Becker, Lori Mince and Joey Senat discussed best practices and best outcomes when issues related to email and digital communications are legislated or litigated in states. The panel was moderated by Scott Sternberg.
Please find the speakers' biographies here.
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Read More… from #FOISummit brief: Digital Dodges and the Email Sleight of Hand
From Carroll County Times: A nonpartisan organization dedicated to the freedom of information has awarded the Carroll County Times a $12,500 grant to help cover litigation costs to fight a petition filed by the Carroll County Board of Commissioners that asks a judge to approve the county’s policy of redacting email addresses from Maryland Public Information Act requests.
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Read More… from Open government organization provides grant to fight county petition
Press release from NFOIC: COLUMBIA, Mo. (May 9, 2013) – A small daily newspaper has been awarded a $12,500 litigation grant from the Knight FOI Fund after being rebuffed and stonewalled for months in its efforts to get email distribution lists from the board of commissioners in a rural Maryland county.
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From the New York Times: If you have lost three consecutive times in court on the same legal fight, with not a single judge giving you the time of day, and one of them saying that your main argument is “particularly specious,” what would you do?
If you’re the City of New York, it’s simple: file another brief with another court. And lose yet again.
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Read More… from A 30-month legal fight to conceal e-mails about a 95-day schools chancellor
From The Morning Call: […] A state court recently said Pennsylvania government offices don't have to provide the public with all of the phone numbers and email addresses assigned to their employees.
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From East County Magazine:
May 2, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – The First Amendment Coalition has issued advice to public officials in light of a court ruling that found private e-mails used by San Jose city officials to discuss public business must be disclosed if a Public Records Act request is received. The ruling is on appeal and is expected to be upheld, according to legal experts, which would set a statewide precedent.
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Read More… from Officials wrestle with disclosure requirements for private emails
A few state FOIA and local open government news items selected from many of interest that we might or might not have drawn attention to earlier in the week. While you're at it, be sure to check out State FOIA Friday Archives.
New Mexico court nixes damages against NM attorney general
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Read More… from NFOIC’s State FOIA Friday for April 26, 2013
From San Diego City Beat:
I love public records laws like a firefighter loves his ax. I love the heft of the federal Freedom of Information Act (or the California Public Records Act) when I slam it into the door of the establishment. And I love it when it gets sharpened.
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