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Article: Getting at public records
- Article from:
- The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Milwaukee, WI)
- Article date:
- February 24, 2003
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2003 The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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Getting at public records
By STANFORD
Monday, February 24, 2003
Once, getting public records was a cinch; at least the law -- if
not the public agency -- was likely on the public's side. In a series
of decisions starting in 1996, however, the Wisconsin Supreme Court
complicated matters. What once were routine requests for public
documents are now drawn-out affairs featuring lawsuits and threats of
lawsuits.
A legislative study committee has tackled this problem, and it has
come up with a proposed measure that would clarify matters. We
ourselves would write a law more tilted toward openness than the
committee did. But the bill would markedly improve upon the status
quo, which is characterized ...