Public Right of Access to Court Records
There is a right to have and keep the court dockets open to the public. What happens when someone wants to foreclose that right? "Plaintiff Noah Cavender initiated this action against the United States Merchant Marine Academy on April 29, 2020" and later sought to withdraw the complaint as it might hurt his employment opportunities for the future. We leave the facts there (for the Plaintiff's sake) but mention this fantastic case that highlights a few concepts for which the p
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Glomar Response
The public has a right to know. "Since 1967, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) has provided the public the right to request access to records from any federal agency. It is often described as the law that keeps citizens in the know about their government. Federal agencies are required to disclose any information requested under the FOIA unless it falls under one of nine exemptions which protect interests such as personal privacy, national security, and law enforcement." h
FOIL: Agencies need to justify imposition of costs/fees
Agencies need to demonstrate sufficient justification for costs and fees related to records requests under the Freedom of Information Law, FOIL. "The people's right to know the process of governmental decision-making and to review the documents and statistics leading to determinations is basic to our society. Access to such information should not be thwarted by shrouding it with the cloak of secrecy or confidentiality." New York law allows a citizen to request documentation a
