Prosecutors want hearings on James Holmes’ mental health kept open
From The Denver Post: Prosecutors in the Aurora movie theater shooting case are fighting a motion by defense attorneys to close upcoming hearings concerning the gunman's psychiatric evaluation. In a response filed Tuesday, prosecutors rip defense attorneys for making "repeated references in open court to the Defendant's purported serious and chronic mental illness" but then asking to close the hearings at which James Holmes' mental health will probably be discussed in the most depth to date. They also argue that excluding the public from the hearings would not only block the news media but also victims . "Closing the courtroom ...
Best practices for agency Freedom of Information Act regulations
From Center for Effective Government: Of the 100 agencies in the federal government subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), dozens of agencies have not yet updated their FOIA regulations to reflect requirements in the OPEN Government Act of 2007. The OPEN Government Act required federal agencies to better assist people who make requests for public information under FOIA – for instance, by providing individualized tracking numbers in order to check the status of a request. read more ...
South Bay commissioner fined $250 for violating Sunshine Law
From The Palm Beach Post: WEST PALM BEACH — While lauding her educational accomplishments and her community service, a judge Monday rejected South Bay Commissioner Shirley Walker-Turner’s plea to set aside her conviction and fined her $250 for violating the state’s Sunshine Law. [...] read more ...
Jersey Journal had to fight for Parking Authority records showing who got breaks
From NJ.com: After receiving about 10 boot void sheets from a source, The Jersey Journal filed an Open Public Records Act request on Oct. 24 seeking all sheets the JCPA has on record for the last three years. On Nov. 6, JCPA attorney Aurelio Vincitore denied the newspaper’s request, saying that releasing the sheets would “substantially interfere with the state or federal government’s ability to protect and defend its citizens against acts of sabotage or terrorism if disclosed.” read more ...
Oklahoma Supreme Court takes jurisdiction in OPUBCO case seeking sealed Shadid divorce records
From The Republic: OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Supreme Court has agreed to take jurisdiction of a case by the parent company of The Oklahoman that seeks sealed divorce records of Oklahoma City mayoral candidate Edward Shadid II. The court said in a Monday order that the Oklahoma Publishing Company has the right to pursue records that a lower court sealed and that it is likely a similar case could arise again. Visit The Republic for more. read more ...
Sturbridge selectmen found in violation of Open Meeting Law
From Telegram: STURBRIDGE — Selectmen in April violated the state's Open Meeting Law when they met in an executive session and eliminated a position in the Fire Department. Hanne Rush, assistant attorney general in the Division of Open Government in the office of Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley, ruled that the board's decision to discuss and then vote to eliminate an assistant to the fire chief position was illegal. Visit Telegram for more. ====== read more ...
Obama Administration’s Open Government Projects, round 2
From Information Week: The Obama Administration released a second round of open government initiatives, introducing nearly two dozen plans to stimulate or improve the government's interaction with citizens -- from streamlining Freedom of Informati ...
Feds blocked key interviews in state inquiry
From Arizona Republic: Federal officials blocked state investigators from interviewing members of a second hotshot crew that fought the Yarnell Hill Fire because they feared some of their statements might become publicly disclosed under Arizona’s Public Records Law, according to correspondence released Thursday. read more ...
Gene Policinski: ‘When’ and ‘why’ we need to hear 911 calls
Opinion from The Californian: The word “restraint” and the First Amendment usually exist in uneasy tension. The 45 words of the First Amendment don’t include it. The Pentagon Papers case in 1971 settled the issue of “prior restraint” by the government on what the press may publish: Nothing doing. read more ...
Fox News reporter does not have to reveal sources in James Holmes case
From The Denver Post: ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) —A Fox News reporter is protected by New York law from being forced to reveal her sources for a story about the suspect in the mass shooting that left 12 people dead in a suburban Denver movie theater last year, the state's top court ruled Tuesday. The state's shield law supports refusing to recognize a Colorado court's petition for a subpoena, the New York Court of Appeals ruled, 4 to 3. Lawyers for the suspect, James Holmes, wanted New York-based reporter Jana Winter brought to Colorado to name two law officers who told ...
