June 2004
CLE Books releases new publication: Wisconsin Public Records and
Open Meetings Handbook
One of your clients, a municipal employee, has just received a letter
from her employer informing her that a request has been made for certain
documents about her. She is frightened and angry and wants to know her
rights under the Public Records Law. Can you answer her questions?
Another client - a town council member - is being sued because he
dined with other council members before a town council meeting. The
lawsuit alleges that, by going to dinner, he violated the Open Meetings
Law. Can you adequately defend him?
Wisconsin is a Blue Sky state; there is a statutory presumption in
favor of access to public records and meetings. But there are limits to
that access. In 2003, the legislature amended the Public Records Law to
provide additional rights for the subjects of public records. If you
don't know what these limits and rights are, you need the State Bar's
latest CLE Books publication, Wisconsin
Public Records and Open Meetings Handbook.
The handbook, produced in cooperation with the State Bar's Government
Lawyers Division, is a thorough exploration of these two laws. Part One
discusses the practical applications of the Public Records Law,
including the notice provisions created by the 2003 amendment. The book
provides guidance on the processes for requesting records, responding to
records requests, and applicable time limits. Part Two takes a practical
look at the Open Meetings Law, discussing the definition of "open,"
notice requirements, when a meeting may be closed to the public, and
enforcement. Both laws are reprinted in full in the appendix. A
comprehensive index makes finding the answers to specific questions
easy.
Whether you represent a governmental entity or employee, or a private
citizen seeking information from the government, this handbook will be
your guide to Wisconsin's Public Records and Open Meetings laws.
The 8 1/2 x 11-inch paperback costs $29 plus tax, shipping, and
handling. Government Lawyers Division members may order copies at a 15
percent discount. Purchasers who subscribe to the Bar's automatic
supplementation service will receive a 10 percent discount on future
editions.
Inside the Bar
