A letter from government transparency organizations urges the Uniform Law Commission to prioritize the public’s right to know when it studies the redaction of personal information from public records. The June 17 letter was written by Sarah Brewerton-Palmer, legislative chair of the Georgia First Amendment Foundation, and was edited and endorsed by Todd Fettig, the…
Tag: Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council
Four state heroes to be inducted into NFOIC’s Open Government Hall of Fame
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA, Sept. 16, 2021 — Four “Heroes of the 50 States,” representing Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, will be inducted Sept. 30 into the National Freedom of Information Coalition’s State Open Government Hall of Fame, as the Class of 2021. The inductees have backgrounds in law, journalism, and academia. The 2021 inductees are: The…
Founder of Wisconsin group saw FOI as ‘a guarantee for the rights of people’
Robert H. (Bob) Wills, longtime editor of the Milwaukee Sentinel and founder of the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council, died July 22, 2021, in Madison, Wisconsin, at age 95, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “The role of the media is that of watchdog of government for the public. It follows that the guarantee of…
Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council names ‘Opee’ winners
This year’s Openness in Government (Opee) Awards recognize Wisconsin’s largest newspaper for its dogged records-based coverage of the pandemic and its commitment to the cause of transparency in government, as well as a government agency that led the way in providing a maximum amount of information on COVID-19. Other winners include a municipal judge who…
Law enforcement, open records advocates differ on Marsy’s Law interpretation
When overwhelmingly passed by Wisconsin voters in April, Marsy’s Law was billed as a major step forward for crime victims’ rights, but public records advocates are raising concerns that an over-interpretation of the constitutional amendment by some law enforcement agencies could curtail access to public information. Last week, the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office announced it would…
New bill would prevent Wisconsin lawmakers from destroying public records
A Wisconsin state lawmaker is introducing legislation that would prevent legislators from destroying public records. Other government agencies are required to keep public records for set periods of time. However, an exception state lawmakers wrote themselves decades ago allows them to avoid such rules. As FOX6 discovered in a recent investigation, state lawmakers regularly delete emails,…
Clerk of courts files claim seeking reimbursement for $33K in attorney fees incurred during investigation sparked by judge
Ozaukee County Clerk of Courts Mary Lou Mueller said an investigation sparked by Judge Joseph Voiland’s false accusations against her and two other court officials cost her more than $30,000 in legal fees. Neither that investigation nor a criminal probe that preceded it found any evidence to support Voiland’s claims that Mueller, Ozaukee County presiding…
Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council’s YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW: State Supreme Court to hear three open records cases
Wisconsin’s third branch of government is critical to open government. This year, the Wisconsin Supreme Court will hear three cases involving Wisconsin’s open records law, and could make important decisions involving access to the courts.
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Wisconsin State agency withholds trove of prison records — from basic info to overdose video
Gov. Scott Walker's administration is keeping a trove of prison documents and videos to itself, preventing the public from examining information about alleged assaults, attempted suicides and the death of an inmate who allegedly overdosed on heroin.
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Wisconsin Board Reboots, Holds Hearing on Changes to Open Records Law
In 2015, the Walker administration worked overtime to figure out new ways to undermine the state's traditions of open government.
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