News & Analysis as of September 21, 2024

Public Records

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The Freedom of Information Act is a United States federal statute enacted in 1966 to promote government transparency and the free exchange of public information. Under FOIA, any individual can request federal agency records and enforce that right in a court of law. However, not all agency records can be requested; there are nine exempt categories of information. In addition to the federal law, many states have passed their own freedom of information acts. These acts are often similar but not always identical to the federal version. less -

As The Leaves Are Changing - What Has (and Has Not) Changed with the FOIA?

Pullman & Comley - Labor, Employment and... on 11/7/2023

As the summer (and your vacation) becomes a distant memory, and the days get shorter and colder, I’ll bet you have had passing thoughts about changes to Connecticut’s Freedom of Information Act’s (“FOIA”), especially in light...more

PAC Issues New Binding Opinion Regarding Personal and Pre-Decisional Exemptions Under FOIA

Franczek P.C. on 4/20/2022

The PAC recently released its second binding opinion of 2022, which provides helpful analysis and guidance regarding the personal and pre-decisional exemptions under the FOIA. The PAC determined that the City of Chicago...more

Disclosure Of State Employees’ Birthdates Not Protected Per Washington Supreme Court

Jackson Lewis P.C. on 11/13/2019

The Washington State Supreme Court ruled recently that state employees’ birthdates associated with their names are not exempt from disclosure pursuant to a freedom of information records request. In so holding, the Court...more

"Private" E-mails and FOIA

Womble Bond Dickinson on 10/26/2016

Recent legal decisions continue to blur the line between private communications and public records, extending the reach of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Because of these shifts, proactive government officials are...more

Informing Illinois Newsletter - August 2016

Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP on 8/29/2016

Is Your Police Department Ready for Body Cameras? - Police use of force has been heavily scrutinized for more than a year. In May 2015, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that it was providing $20 million in grants...more

Informing Illinois Newsletter - February 2016: Personal Documents Stored on a Government Computer System — Disclosable Under...

Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP on 2/23/2016

Personal Documents Stored on a Government Computer System — Disclosable Under Illinois' FOIA? Not all documents created or stored on a government computer system are subject to disclosure under Illinois' Freedom of...more

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