Closed prosecution files not subject to open records law
Article Abstract:
The Texas Supreme Court found in Holmes v. Morales that the Harris County District Attorney's Office was not required to disclose requested investigatory files, even though they were considered closed cases. The Court rejected the argument that district attorney's offices are not governmental bodies subject to the state Open Records Act because they are part of the judiciary. The Court did accept the argument that the exception for law enforcement records under the Act does not distinguish between open and closed cases, and it found that the exception applied.
Publication Name: News Media & the Law
Subject: Literature/writing
ISSN: 0149-0737
Year: 1996
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Community colleges not subject to records act
Article Abstract:
Pennsylvania's high court ruled in Apr 1996 that community colleges do not perform an 'essential government function' and thus are immune from the state's Right to Know Act. The case involved the Community College of Philadelphia's March 1992 refusal to disclose documents concerning campus security upon a demand by editors of the student newspaper. The Court of Common Pleas sided with the college, and was reversed in the Commonwealth Court, which the state's Supreme Court overruled unanimously.
Publication Name: News Media & the Law
Subject: Literature/writing
ISSN: 0149-0737
Year: 1996
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
- Abstracts: Florida retreats from ruling on records. Clemency records not subject to disclosure. Georgia Supreme Court opens student records
- Abstracts: States try to open records on suits, keep sex-crime victims' names secret. Justice Blackmun refuses to stop opening of records
- Abstracts: Family services, ACLU win right to secret talks: advocates denies access to consent decree conference with state agency
- Abstracts: Courts back refusal to release Hoffa files. Federal law does not require release of drug testing data. Disclosure of police discipline records uneven: courts in Massachusetts, Ohio allow access; California says no