Weaver: Public access is at risk in two pending court cases
Two cases being considered by the Indiana Supreme Court could have a dramatic effect on Hoosiers’ rights to obtain government documents under the state’s Access to Public Records Act.
Two cases being considered by the Indiana Supreme Court could have a dramatic effect on Hoosiers’ rights to obtain government documents under the state’s Access to Public Records Act.
The Indiana Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in December for a case involving an Indianapolis attorney’s public records request that had been denied by the Indiana Family & Social Services Administration.
He can start by protecting the role of the state’s public access counselor despite the Legislature’s moves to weaken the post.
The Indiana Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Tuesday in a case involving a man’s public records access dispute with members of the Indiana Election Division.
The dispute centers on whether the state should have to pay the attorney fees of a man who sought certain public records from the Indiana Election Division.
By utilizing some strategic forethought and planning, public agencies can help protect board members from harsh public scrutiny while simultaneously adhering to the important tenets of public transparency.
Police departments cannot charge citizens a fee to “inspect,” rather than “obtain,” accident reports, the Court of Appeals of Indiana has ruled, ordering the Evansville police to allow a woman to inspect such a report at no charge.
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita will have to make public the government’s advisory opinion on his former employment with Apex Benefits after a trial court rejected his argument that the document is confidential.
In separate motions for summary judgment, the parties in the lawsuit about Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita’s previous job are arguing over whether the Office of Inspector General has the authority to shield its reports from public review.
A lawsuit alleging Clay County officials failed to provide transparency in developing plans for a possible expansion of the Clay County Justice Center in Brazil, which houses U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees, has been voluntarily dismissed.
This past October, Luke Britt was reappointed by Gov. Eric Holcomb for a second time for another four-year term as Indiana’s public access counselor. Britt is the state’s seventh PAC and is in his ninth year in the role.