Key step forward in the quest for public records
From Sunshine Review
June 23, 2009 A New Jersey state appeals court ruled in favor of a woman who requested a copy of a government resolution by submitting her request in e-mail form.[1]
[edit] Requested material
Tina Renna of Cranford, NJ was refused information by Union County because they would not recognize her March 13, 2006 e-mail as a valid means of asking for the public information. Renna sought a copy of a government resolution, Union County Resolution No. 42- 2005.[2]
[edit] New Jersey's Open Public Records Act
This ruling overturned the Sept. 6, 2007 decision by Union County Law Division Judge Kathryn A. Brock and it is also contrary to the Government Records Council's Advisory Opinion. Under New Jersey's Open Public Records Act (OPRA), seekers of government documents and information that are available to the public would fill out the agency's official paper form, but this ruling will allow email submissions.
"This decision will mean easier access to public records," said Renna's attorney Richard Gutman. "That's what the Legislature intended when they wrote in OPRA's first sentence that public records should be 'readily accessible.' "[2]
[edit] External links
- Union County website
- New Jersey OPRA
- County Watchers-a website for which Tina Renna writes.
[edit] References
- ↑ "NJ appeals court rules that e-mailing OPRA requests acceptable"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Plaintiff lauds ruling on govt. records requests"
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