A New Jersey municipality that had sued an 82-year-old woman for seeking a “burdensome” number of public records has dropped its lawsuit, after a wave of media attention and backlash. Irvington Township in 2021 sued Elouise McDaniel for filing numerous requests under the state’s Open Public Records Act. “They were trying to intimidate Ms. McDaniel,” […]
Tag: New Jersey
NFOIC signs brief urging release of New Jersey corrections officer’s settlement agreement
The National Freedom of Information Coalition, along with a dozen other organizations, joined a Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press amicus brief in a New Jersey case concerning access to settlement agreements between public employees and public agencies. Libertarians for Transparent Government sought a settlement agreement between a former corrections officer and Cumberland County, […]
Innovation Lead Will Help New Jersey Modernize Process, Support the Tech Economy
New Jersey’s inaugural chief innovation officer, a longtime champion of transparency in information, said she’ll continue to rely closely on open data and input from her colleagues at the Office of Information Technology (NJOIT), residents and other resources as she begins her new position. Beth Simone Noveck, director of the White House Open Government Initiative from 2009 […]
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NJ: Justices weigh public’s right to know in fatal cop encounters
In one of the biggest legal battles over government transparency in New Jersey, the state Supreme Court is poised to determine how much information the public receives in the hours and days after police officers use fatal force.
A key question in the case is whether law enforcement agencies must release records that name police officers who use fatal force in the line of duty. Another is whether dashboard-camera videos of such incidents are public or confidential.
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NJFOG Press Release: Free NJFOG OPRA/OPMA forum in Perth Amboy on September 20
Join the New Jersey Foundation for Open Government the evening of September 20, 2016 for a discussion of the state's open public records and meetings laws. This event is being provided at no cost to attendees with our thanks to The Amboy Guardian for making the arrangements.
Come learn about the laws that provide public access to government records and meetings and that allow citizens greater insight into the operations of state and local governments in New Jersey.
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Court: N.J. can act like some public records don’t exist
TRENTON, N.J. — A state appeals court ruled Wednesday that government agencies in New Jersey may deny access to public records by saying they can “neither confirm nor deny” their existence.
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New Jersey pays gun rights group $100K in State Police permit case
The state Attorney General's Office has paid a New Jersey gun rights group $101,626 in legal costs and released documents describing the state's firearms background check process after fighting their disclosure in court for years.
The payment was ordered by a judge after a lengthy legal battle between the state and the New Jersey Second Amendment Society, which was seeking the State Police's guide for local departments performing checks on those applying for gun permits.
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New Jersey’s public records fights prove costly
New Jersey taxpayers are on the hook for more than $1 million for the state’s failed attempts to keep records secret over the last four years, according to data obtained by The Associated Press.
The information, obtained through the state’s Open Public Records Act, shows that the state paid out $1,076,013 in taxpayer money reimbursing plaintiffs’ lawyers fees in 54 cases from January 2012 through March 4.
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Learn about open government, Sunshine laws at New Jersey seminar
The New Jersey Foundation for Open Government (NJFOG) is hosting a free educational seminar during National Sunshine Week (March 13-19), when the dialogue will be all about open government and “your right to know.”
The seminar will be held on Tuesday, March 15 from 7 to 9 p.m. in the cafeteria of the Belleville High School.
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What police records should be public? New Jersey Supreme Court to decide
New Jersey's highest court is weighing whether police departments should be given broad discretion over which documents to release under the state's public records laws.
News organizations and civil liberties advocates say a decision in the case, which involves records from a police shooting requested by a media company, will have broad implications for transparency in New Jersey.
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