Favoring disclosure: Court strengthens state public records law

Opinion from Las Vegas Review-Journal:

There is one, overriding reason why Nevada has such a clear, strong public records law: A democracy can't survive without transparency. The public won't have confidence in government institutions or elected officials if the records that document the public's business aren't open to inspection. Secrecy begets tyranny.

The Nevada Supreme Court on Thursday bolstered Nevada's public records law and rejected the idea that any state office can lock down documents without explanation. In a 7-0 decision, justices overturned a District Court ruling that allowed former Gov. Jim Gibbons to keep secret nearly 100 emails requested by the Reno Gazette-Journal.