New Jersey

N.J. Supremes rule that the League of Municipalities is a government body

Trenton, NJ On August 23, 2011, the New Jersey Supreme Court issued a major ruling in favor of government transparency holding that the New Jersey League of Municipalities is a public body subject to the states New Jersey Open Public Records Act and New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act. The original suit was filed in 2008 by the Fair Share Housing Center, a nonprofit advocacy group in New Jersey. The court held that “The league meets the definition of a public agency for OPRA (Open Public Records Act) purposes — it is an ‘instrumentality … created by … political subdivisions.’ As a public agency, the league must make available government documents as required by OPRA.”^[1] The League is composed of entirely elected or appointed public officials and lobbies on behalf of state municipalities. In addition, its employees participate in state funded retirement plans. The decision overturned a ruling by the appellate courts which upheld the decision of a trial court.^[1] You can read more about private agencies and public records laws in New Jersey or another state at Private agency, public dollars.