louisiana open government – Page 2 – National Freedom of Information Coalition

Judge threatens imprisonment, suspension of LSU board of supervisors in presidential records case

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From The Times-Picayune: A district judge in Baton Rouge ordered the LSU Board of Supervisors on Monday to turn over records related to the university’s presidential search, or face consequences that could include stopping all further court proceedings, suspending the board of supervisors, or imprisonment.

Saying “the court is very loathe to take these measures,” Judge Janice Clark told LSU’s lawyer that she “strongly urges and encourages your clients to comply” with her orders and turn over the records immediately.

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Man wins appeal against IRS for FOIA request attorney’s fees

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From Louisiana Record: A man whose motion for attorney’s fees was denied by a district court has won an appeal at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit involving his case against the IRS.

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Louisiana lawmakers stall public records debate

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From The Town Talk: Louisiana lawmakers complain that they can’t get certain information from Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration and that a provision they wrote into public records law in 2009 has been wrongly applied to other agencies.

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Editorial: LSU should open records

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From The Advocate: LSU general counsel Shelby McKenize said that LSU officials have “a moral obligation” to keep the public from knowing who else was considered in the job search that led to the recent approval of F. King Alexander as the new LSU system president.

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LSU to appeal public records ruling

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From The Advocate (Baton Rouge): LSU’s Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to appeal 19th Judicial District Judge Janice Clark’s ruling that the university illegally denied The Advocate and other news outlets the names and other information related to LSU’s search for a new president.

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Opinion: Louisiana government making itself off limits to the public

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Media attorney wants judge to find LSU in contempt of court

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From The Advocate: An attorney for The Advocate and The Times-Picayune asked a judge Friday to find LSU’s Board of Supervisors in contempt of court for refusing to turn over materials related to the university’s recent search for a new president.

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Records in LSU presidential search not released

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From SeattlePi.com: BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Two Louisiana news organizations are asking a judge to punish LSU’s Board of Supervisors for not releasing documents related the university’s presidential search.

Lori Mince is an attorney representing The Times-Picayune/NOLA Media Group and The Advocate newspaper. She filed a motion Friday asking Judge Janice Clark to find the supervisors in contempt of court.

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Editorial: Jindal should set example

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Editorial from the Advocate: We’re not the only observers, of course, who were struck by the irony of Gov. Bobby Jindal accusing state lawmakers of secrecy in making their decisions.

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Public-records bill defeated again

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From DailyComet.com: BATON ROUGE — Siding with arguments offered by Gov. Bobby Jindal’s chief attorney, a House committee voted Tuesday to deny the general public greater access to records created and maintained by the governor’s office.

Records ranging from travel logs and emails to contracts and memorandums are currently protected from public review if they are part of the office’s “deliberative process.”

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