Legal Victory for MEA is a Win for Government Transparency and Accountability
In a decision issued this week, an appellate court addressed two significant issues that will affect open government and the public records law moving forward: whether text messages on private cell phones qualify as public records and whether officials who withhold public records but then turn them over during litigation can escape judgments against them and orders to pay for attorney fees. On both fronts, the court came down on the side of openness and transparency.