Editorial: Records belong to the public
May 1, 2009: "Democracy can be messy, but openness is nearly always preferable to allowing the government to decide what information it will allow the public to see. A Superior Court judge has agreed, and directed New Hanover County to release records that, by law, belong to the public.
Those records include the names, departments and salaries of the people the county laid off last month due to budget cuts. The Star-News has those names; it chose not to publish them because their identities weren't critical in reporting which departments were most affected. But their names are among the many government records that are supposed to be available to anyone who asks for them." Read the full editorial here.
Public Records
April 20, 2009: "For many North Carolinians seeking access to government documents, the state's public-records law is meaningless. A bureaucrat or elected official can refuse to release a public document, and the citizen cannot afford the legal costs associated with suing for its release.
That obstruction of open government would change significantly if legislation before the N.C. House of Representatives becomes law. House Bill 1134 would make it almost certain that citizens who successfully sue for records would get reimbursed for a reasonable amount of attorneys' fees." Read the full editorial here.
Bill would require attorneys fees after public record lawsuit wins
April 10, 2009: "Four state House members have introduced a bill that would require judges to award attorneys fees to plaintiffs who prevail in many public records cases.
The bill, sponsored by Reps. Deborah Ross, D-Wake; William Wainwright, D-Craven; Winkie Wilkins, D-Person; and Margaret Dickson, D-Cumberland, would also set up an open government unit within the attorney general's office to educate the public and government agencies of their rights and responsibilities under the state's public records and open meetings laws." Read the full article here.
N.C. bill would award legal fees in records lawsuits
April 7, 2009: "A government agency that illegally withheld public records or documents would have to award reasonable legal fees under a bill introduced in the state House.
North Carolina Press Association executive director Beth Grace said Tuesday that the legislation can prevent people who fight city hall from going broke even if they win their case. Agencies that rely on legal advice to keep records closed wouldn't have to pay." Read the full article here.
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