Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council
A representative government is dependent on an informed electorate
Q: Why should I make an open records request in writing? A: While oral requests for public records are valid, there are a number of reasons why submitting a request in writing is often preferable. First, if you make a written request for a record, the authority must respond to your request in writing. Sec. […]
Continue ReadingQ: How does Wisconsin statute section 19.36(7) apply to the names of “final candidates” for public positions, such as school superintendent or police chief? A: Section 19.36(7), Stats., of the Open Records Law provides access to the names of all final candidates for public positions. Whenever there are at least 5 candidates, the statute provides […]
Continue ReadingWisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle’s proposed budget includes a provision instructing law enforcement officers in most Wisconsin counties to begin collecting information on traffic stops, as a way to gauge whether racial profiling is occurring. The proposal calls for these records to be exempt from the state’s open records law. According to this article in the […]
Continue ReadingBelow are the Wisconsin Supreme Court rules governing cameras in the courtroom. Rules for individual county circuit courts can be accessed using the Wisconsin Bar Association web site by clicking HERE. A list of Wisconsin’s news media coordinators, who are responsible for coordinating camera access to local courtrooms, can be accessed by clicking HERE. SCR […]
Continue ReadingThese resources are provided by the Attorney General’s office. Public Records Law Compliance Guide, 2024 – The latest open records guide from the Attorney General’s office. Open Meetings Law Compliance Guide, 2025 – The latest open meetings guide from the Attorney General’s office.
Continue ReadingResources Compliance Outline: Wisconsin Open Records Law Compliance Guide: Wisconsin Open Meetings Law UW Extension guides to open government Wisconsin Attorney General Opinions Woznicki fix legislation summary Federation of American Scientists Project on Government Secrecy News Media for Open Government The Open Records Blues Wisconsin Photographers Bill of Rights FOIC 2008 Public Records Audit: Full […]
Continue ReadingHere are some important resources from the Freedom of the Information Council: Open Government Resources tutorial: A summary of links to key information. F.A.Q’s.: Frequently Asked Questions about the Open Meetings and Public Records Laws, compiled by the Madison law office of LaFollette Godfrey & Kahn. Open Government Problem Areas: A changing list of problems […]
Continue ReadingHere’s a video that explains the process with this sample letter. Below is the sample letter than you can copy and paste into a word processor. Sample Open Records Request Letter _________________________________________________________________________________ RECIPIENT NAME AGENCY ADDRESS CITY, STATE ZIP DATE Dear MX. XXXXX, This letter is to request the following records, under the state’s Open […]
Continue ReadingOpen Records Cases Adell v Sullivan (Court of Appeals, 1997) Denying damages and costs to a prison inmate who alleged the Racine Correctional Institute withheld documents and responded too slowly to a request for records. Atlas Transit v Korte (Court of Appeals, 2001) Upholding lower court’s balancing of interests in favor of a school system’s […]
Continue ReadingMcNamara/June 10, 1994 (Discussion of whether final deliberations and approval of contract ratification must be conducted in open session). Pelrine/Feb. 25, 1992 (Regarding closed session discussions of hiring of public employee). Ott/Nov. 18, 1991(Analyzing the law’s definitions of governmental bodies and quasi-governmental corporations). Besadny/April 28, 1989 (Applicability of law to advisory committees). Risser/Dec. 19, […]
Continue ReadingMaldonado/November 28, 2016 (Records custodians may not charge for paper copies of electronic records if the only reason paper copies are being provided is that the custodian needs to print them out to make redactions.) State Courts Office/Dec. 30, 2014 (Clerks of court cannot charge people who make their own copies of court records but can prevent […]
Continue ReadingOpenness in government is critical to democracy. Wisconsin state law makes that clear in this high-minded preamble to the Wisconsin Open Meetings Law: “In recognition of the fact that a representative government of the American type is dependent upon an informed electorate, it is declared to be the policy of this state that the public […]
Continue ReadingWISCONSIN FREEDOM OF INFORMATION COUNCIL, INC. ARTICLE 1 PURPOSE The purpose of the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council, Inc. (the “Council”) is to safeguard the right of the public to the information it must have to act responsibly in a free and democratic society. A primary goal of the Council shall be to educate Wisconsin […]
Continue ReadingOfficers / Executive Board Bill Lueders President (Public member) 3505 Lerdahl Rd. Madison, WI 53704 (608) 669-4712 blueders@gmail.com Christa Westerberg Vice President (Public member) Pines Bach LLP 122 W Washington Ave, Ste. 900 Madison, WI 53703 (608) 310-3560 cwesterberg@pinesbach.com Mark Treinen FOIC Secretary (Wisconsin Newspaper Association) The Capital Times 1901 Fish Hatchery Rd. […]
Continue Reading“Is this really news anymore?” That was one of the anonymous comments posted on the Green Bay Press-Gazette Web site May 29 in reaction to an Associated Press story about what we’re told is the last release of documents related to the tragic shooting in Crandon more than eight months ago. The killing spree claimed […]
Continue ReadingAttorney General J.B. Van Hollen issued a strong and important opinion this month favoring the public’s right to know about traffic accidents and crime in local communities. Van Hollen agreed with state newspapers that basic information identifying people in accident and incident reports is open to public inspection under Wisconsin law. It doesn’t matter that […]
Continue ReadingWisconsin has a long history of providing the public with access to its governmental records. Indeed, the state enacted the first of its public records laws in 1917. The current public records statutes were enacted in 1983. Microfilm was the “whiz bang” technology for storing government records in 1983. Other exciting technologies of the day […]
Continue ReadingThe famous Watergate-era figure dubbed Deep Throat once told a reporter to “follow the money” in order to figure out what was going on. That’s sometimes easier said than done, particularly when it involves gleaning information from some of the electronically filed campaign finance reports filed by Wisconsin’s political candidates and committees. For instance, here […]
Continue ReadingA ruling by Dane County Judge David Flanagan that lets lawmakers keep drafts of legislation under wraps is a slap in the face to open government. Flanagan ruled in June in a case brought by former Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager. She sued two lawmakers in 2005 for failing to make public the draft of their […]
Continue ReadingA recent court ruling against the Evansville Police Department could carry consequences much greater than the $25,000 that the case will cost the city and its insurance company. Evansville has begun removing public information from police reports for fear of getting sued – and losing – again. And other local police across Wisconsin are following […]
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