From Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council: State Sen. Leah Vukmir, R-Wauwatosa, is making a novel legal argument to dodge a public records request. It’s one that, carried to its logical extreme, could neuter Wisconsin’s Public Records Law.
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Read More… from Your Right to Know: Vukmir wrong on records law
From Journal Sentinel: Madison — The Journal Sentinel will move to intervene in the appeal of a former aide to Gov. Scott Walker if anyone attempts to seal records in the case, an attorney for the newspaper wrote in a Friday letter to the Court of Appeals.
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Read More… from Newspaper says it will intervene in John Doe appeals case if records sealed
From The Nation: In the two years since the ALEC Exposed project revealed the role that the secretive American Legislative Exchange Council plays in shaping the laws of states across the nation, the group has had a much harder time hiding its meddling.
In fact, so much national attention has been paid to ALEC’s role in promoting restrictive voter ID laws and controversial Stand Your Ground initiatives that ALEC officials announced last year that they would shut down the task force that was responsible for promoting those measures.
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Read More… from Blocking the public’s right to know about ALEC
From Star Tribune: Wisconsin's open records laws apply to legislators but they can claim immunity from lawsuits seeking their documents, Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen said Tuesday.
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Read More… from Wisconsin AG says he must defend legislator’s immunity in open records lawsuit
From Journal Sentinel: State Sen. Leah Vukmir is trying to sidestep an open records lawsuit by claiming she can't be sued while in office — a legal argument that, if successful, would let all lawmakers ignore the open records law.
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Read More… from Wisconsin Sen. Leah Vukmir tries to sidestep open records suit
From NFOIC: A few state FOIA and local open government news items selected from many of interest that we might or might not have drawn attention to earlier in the week. While you're at it, be sure to check out State FOIA Friday Archives.
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Read More… from NFOIC’s State FOIA Friday for September 13, 2013
From San Francisco Chronicle: MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The latest attempt to restrict public access to a popular online court records database is once again attracting opposition from media groups, landlords, the state court system and even the parents of the bill's sponsor.
But Rep. Evan Goyke, a Democrat from Milwaukee who is a former public defender in Milwaukee County, said Monday he will not be deterred by the tough road ahead, even though both his father and mother work for opponents of the bill.
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Read More… from Wisconsin bill changing access to court database opposed
From SFGate: BLACK RIVER FALLS, Wis. — A Jackson County judge who sealed the identities of defendants in three criminal cases defended the move as an effort to protect the innocent, but open-records advocates blasted the action as a violation of the public's right to know.
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Read More… from Wisconsin judge’s sealing of records raises concerns
