Weaver: All I want for the New Year is more government disclosure
When it comes to government transparency laws, Indiana often ranks near the bottom in terms of what it requires public officials and political activists to disclose.
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State supreme court to hear oral arguments in public records dispute
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.
Indiana Supreme Court to hear arguments on public records access dispute with Indiana Election Division
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.
Indiana Supreme Court to hear oral arguments in public records dispute
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.
Indiana Public Access Counselor opines on redacted invoices for Rokita’s disciplinary case
A new opinion from Indiana’s Public Access Counselor critiqued redactions to public records that make it difficult to determine the amount of public dollars spent to defend Attorney General Todd Rokita’s law license.
Hoosier lawmakers decline to remove public records chief restrictions
The proposed changes largely neuter the public access counselor position and were inserted into an unrelated bill with little warning or public testimony.
Boswell and Chinn: Public agency considerations in an era of engaged citizenry
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.
Finding the issue moot, IN Supreme Court declines to order judge in Delphi murder case to comply with public access rules
The Indiana Supreme Court has declined to enter a writ of mandamus in the dispute over access to court records between a trial judge and the man accused of murder in the deaths of two Delphi teens, finding the issue is now moot.
Court orders AG Rokita to release report on former job in private sector
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.
Counselor: Fort Wayne violated law by withholding Henry arrest records
Fort Wayne officials violated Indiana’s public records laws by not releasing police body camera footage and other records related to the drunken driving arrest of the city’s mayor, the state’s public access counselor says.
Records: Bullet found near 2 Delphi teens’ bodies came from suspect
An unspent bullet found between the bodies of two teenage girls from Delphi slain in 2017 “had been cycled through” a pistol owned by the suspect in their deaths, according to court documents an Indiana judge ordered released Tuesday.
Trial court finds no wrongdoing, rules for Indiana Treasurer Mitchell, Ice Miller and other defendants
A Marion Superior Court has dismissed the whistleblower lawsuit filed against Indiana Treasurer Kelly Mitchell and a slew of other defendants, including the law firm Ice Miller.
COA: BMV can share infraction conviction info
Per Indiana Code, the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles isn’t prohibited from disclosing records or information about traffic infraction convictions, the Court of Appeals of Indiana has affirmed.
Plaintiff presses for release of advisory opinion regarding AG Rokita’s private employment
Declaring Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita is attempting to use the state’s open records law as both a shield and a sword, an Indianapolis woman is asking a federal court to make public an agency opinion about the top Hoosier lawyer’s private-sector job he kept when he entered elected office.
Ice Miller, co-defendants argue whistleblower complaint fails to show wrongdoing
Indianapolis-based law firm Ice Miller LLP and the banks listed as defendants in the whistleblower lawsuit brought by the former general counsel of the Indiana Treasurer’s Office have filed a motion asking the Marion Superior Court to dismiss the case on the grounds that the complaint does not show they knowingly and intentionally made false or fraudulent claims.
School district, TV station take home partial wins in public records dispute over football coach’s suspension
A central Indiana school district that placed a football coach on unpaid leave failed to provide a local TV station with a sufficient factual basis for that discipline, the Indiana Supreme Court ruled Thursday in a partial reversal. However, the high court upheld the ruling that the school district does not have to provide the TV station with the coach’s underlying personnel files.
COA reinstates case alleging Crawford County clerk withheld public records
Rebekah Atkins had filed a complaint alleging the Crawford County clerk was creating fake court records pertaining to Atkins’ identity and, along with the clerk’s office and its employees, was denying Atkins access to records she claimed belonged to her.
Indy TV station loses public records dispute against Hamilton Southeastern schools
A Hamilton County school district fulfilled its public disclosure duties when it provided information about a suspended employee’s discipline and personnel history, even though the district did not provide specific personnel records, the Indiana Court of Appeals has ruled. The appellate court used its Wednesday decision to call on the Indiana General Assembly to provide more clarity in how public agencies should respond to public records requests.