Won state supreme court public record case establishing right of access to police records during pendency of criminal trial. The public records act pra requires state and local agencies to make their written records available to the public for inspection and copying upon request, unless the information meets certain requirements for exemption. His practice concentrates on product liability, personal injury, and insurance coverage. A link to the wsbas website is provided as a convenience to members of the public and the wsba. Member data and contact information policy wsba home. Represented news and other clients in dozens of state and federal public records disputes. Note 4 at the end of this reprint provides a list of the amendments incorporated. He litigates public records disputes and is coeditorinchief of the second edition of the wsba public records act deskbook. Most of these minor changes brought bodies within the scope of the act. Coauthor, washington chapter of tapping official secrets published by. Vacant positions will be filled by appointment on an interim basis per wsba.
Szilvia szilagyi, public records officer washington state bar association 25 fourth ave. Public records in the custody of, or maintained by, the governors office means any writing prepared on or. Public records act 2005 no 40 as at 28 september 2017. Administrative law section of the washington state bar association. James beck is a personal injury attorney in tacoma, wa. Documents and indexes to be made public statement of costs. Washingtons public disclosure and open public meetings laws 2d ed. More information on open government is available at the attorney generals office open government web page, the washington coalition for open government, the municipal research and services center, and other sources. All opinions and comments on this website represent the views of the contributors and do not necessarily have the endorsement of the wsba nor its officers or agents. Coauthored chapter 14, attorney client privilege, in the washington public records act deskbook wsba.
Mar 31, 2017 he litigates public records disputes and is coeditorinchief of the second edition of the wsba public records act deskbook. Find out about the legislation on public records access and its history. Public records act presented in partnership with wsba administrative law section, this april 2 seminar coincides with the release of the 2020 supplement to the public records act deskbook. Chapter 2 public records act exemptions chapter last revised.
Prevailed in public records act litigation on behalf of a large information technology services company whose competitor had sought proprietary materials through a public records request. Criminal history, juvenile, sexual offense, jail and inmate, and law enforcement records 36. Executive branch agencyspecific exemptions from inspection or copying of public records. Open government is vital to a free and informed society, and this updated. Exemptions and prohibitions outside the public records act. I am committed to enhancing transparency in government. Public records act 1958 shall, as from the appointed day, have effect as if british telecommunications were included amongst the bodies and establishments set out in part ii of the table at the end of paragraph 3 of schedule 1 to that act by virtue of british telecommunications act 1981 c. This manual provides you information about our states sunshine laws. The washington supreme court has extended the comment period to march 3 for a proposed change to rpc 4. Identifiable records facilities for copying availability of public records. Public records act 2002 part 2 public records page 8 current as at 3 may 20 authorised by the parliamentary counsel arrangements for the safe keeping, proper preservation and return of the record. Assent 19th august, 1971 commencement 9th december, 1971 1.
Washington public records act deskbook, chapter 14. Government and wrote two chapters for the public records act deskbook published by the wsba in 2006. The public records act pra does not provide an exemption for the names and associated dates of birth of employees. Washingtons public disclosure and open public meetings laws is a joint effort by practitioners representing both requestors and agencies. Washingtons constitution and election laws regarding the handling of ballots mandate absolute secrecy and security of each ballot, including electronic images of 1 2 2 2 5 11 11 ballots. The body of election laws that provide for ballot secrecy.
Exemptions and prohibitions outside the public records act 33. Full of practice tips, forms, and checklists, deskbooks should be the foundation of your washington law reference library. This page provides links to mrscs resources related to the public records act pra in washington state. Nominations are now open for districts 3, 6, 7north, and 8 and one atlarge seat on the board of governors. The washington state bar association strives to provide the highest quality. Open government resource manual pdf a message from attorney general bob ferguson welcome to the washington state attorney general s office 2016 open government resource manual. Senior editor, public records act deskbook, washington state bar association 2006. Washington state bar cle publications american legal. Obtained a court order permanently enjoining the state agency from releasing the clients confidential business information. Administrative law section of the washington state bar. Public records act and the state constitution, and it includes the right to inspect and copy records of state and local government agencies.
We have written and regularly update an administrative law practice manual an online publication, and the public records act deskbook. Washingtons public disclosure and open public meetings laws, chapter 22 open public. Chair elect, wsbas trial advocacy program, 2015 2016. The california public records act statutes of 1968, chapter 1473. Land use planning and wsbas real property deskbook series 4th ed. This deskbook provides comprehensive coverage of washingtons public records act, chapter 42. The 2020 supplement to the public records act deskbook. Mar 14, 2012 washington real estate attorneys may be interested to take note that the wsbas real property deskbook series 4th ed. Washingtons public disclosure and open public meetings laws.
Administrative law section washington state bar association. Learning from civil discovery wapro spring training 20. The state of the public records act in 2014 and beyond 2014 and contributing author to deskbook public records act cosa fall workshop 2014 record searches and metadata. To request public bar records, you should make your request in writing on the request form, or by letter or email addressed to the bars public records officer. This is a public records act case where the trial court penalized. Resources washington state bar association real property. Times for inspection and copying posting on web site. Washington s constitution and election laws regarding the handling of ballots mandate absolute secrecy and security of each ballot, including electronic images of 1 2 2 2 5 11 11 ballots. Washingtons public disclosure and open public meetings laws representing the globetrotting client may 9,20 selected topics in consumer protection law practical pointers and hot new tips september 24,20. Mrsc agencies must provide a reasonable time estimate in. This act is administered by the department of internal affairs.
How penalties and fees tie to agency best practices wsba. As the legislature stated in enacting the california public records act, access to information. Rowland thompson is executive director of allied daily newspaper of washington, a role he has held since 1990. He has successfully defended product manufacturers in cases involving automotive, marine, medical and agricultural products. Public records act for washington cities, counties, and. These courses can help fulfill the open government trainings act requirements. The washington state bar association is publishing a. We recognize that most attorneys in washington practice some type of administrative law, even if they never directly apply the washington administrative procedure act. Washington state bar association public records act deskbook. How to make a public records request, wsbas public records act deskbook, chapter 5supplement forthcoming 2020. Changes authorised by subpart 2 of part 2 of the legislation act 2012 have been made in this official reprint. She is also a frequent presenter at seminars and cles on washingtons open government laws, the senior editor and an author of the wsba s public records act deskbook, and is a contributing author and editor of numerous other open government resource books. She is also a founding and current board member and former president of the washington.
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