Access to electronic records: a guide to reporting on state and local government in the computer age

Article Abstract:

Every state in the US has statutes, court opinions and fee policies regarding journalists' access to government electronic records. Many state statutes explicitly define electronic records as public records. However, states often reject a journalists' requests for electronic records. States may argue that electronic records also exist in print, states are not responsible for creating new records to be used by journalists, the relevant database also contains confidential information, or software is proprietary. Journalists should be well-prepared when making requests. They should know their rights and law relating to electronic records.

States, Electronic records, Computer files

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JFK records board closes shop, releases recommendations

Article Abstract:

The Assassination Records Review Board issued 10 recommendations in Sep 1998 regarding public access to government documents. The board's recommendations included recommendations that future boards should maintain independence, declassification regulations should not have unreasonable time limits, and the Freedom of Information Act be strengthened. The Board was established after the 1992 John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act was passed. A week after the recommendations were issued, Pres Bill Clinton signed a law creating a task force to allow access to government documents related to Nazi war crimes.

Kennedy, John F., Assassination, Security classification (Government documents)

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U.S. must give British extradition letter to lawyer

Article Abstract:

The US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals stated in its Oct 1998 Weatherhead v. US decision that the government could not classify an extradition letter from the UK unless it could describe how disclosing the letter would damage UK national security. The letter regarded the extradition to the US of a member of an Indian mystic community who was charged with conspiracy to commit murder. The alleged conspirator was a British citizen who belonged to a religious community in Oregon. The letter was requested by the defendant's attorney.

Extradition

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