A User's Guide to Idaho's Open Meeting and Public Records Laws

Open government news from around Idaho

Keep records public, for the benefit of the public

March 9th, 2010

It’s the kind of news that frightens any parent: A retired police officer, a former school resource officer, is jailed on child sexual abuse charges.

So where was Stephen R. Young working, from 1995 to 2005? On Saturday, a Boise police spokesman wouldn’t say. “The problem is, it’s a personnel issue, protected by state law,” Charles McClure said.

Editorial from The Idaho Statesman

Idaho Democrats have gone to the dark side

January 27th, 2010

Say it ain’t so!

Idaho Democrats are going the way of their Republican brethren when it comes to government secrecy.

The minority Democrats, with just 18 House seats and seven in the Senate, made the decision to caucus behind closed doors to maximize their effectiveness.

That reason doesn’t fly with us.

Editorial from the Moscow-Pullman Daily News

Idaho Dems shut down open caucuses

January 20th, 2010

Idaho’s House and Senate minority caucuses have voted to close their meetings to the public, saying they don’t want Republicans to get a glimpse of their game plan.

“To maximize our effectiveness in the Legislature, we must take the field with every advantage that we can muster,” said House Assistant Minority Leader James Ruchti, D-Pocatello.

From The Spokesman-Review

Democrats do 180, shut out public

January 20th, 2010

The legislative minority abandoned its argument that Democrats are the champions of transparency at the Legislature.

From the Idaho Statesman

Juvenile Court judge orders Pavlis bike fatality case sealed

December 29th, 2009

A Boise boy has already made his first Juvenile Court appearance in the death of well-known cycling enthusiast Kevin Pavlis. But what happened in the courtroom remains a mystery, since 4th District Juvenile Judge William Harrigfeld is keeping the case sealed from the public.

From the Idaho Statesman

Ninth Circuit Judicial Council Approves Experimental Use of Cameras in District Courts

December 18th, 2009

The Judicial Council of the Ninth Circuit, governing body for
federal courts in the western states, has approved, on an experimental basis, the limited
use of cameras in federal district courts within the circuit.

From the Ninth Circuit Judicial Council

Canyon County to discuss its open meeting protocol

December 15th, 2009

County commissioners will meet with Prosecuting Attorney John Bujak today to discuss open meeting protocol.

“I’ve had some concerns about the way some things have been put on the agendas for the commissioners meeting, and does it comply with the open meeting law,” Bujak told the Idaho Press-Tribune Sunday. “So my office put together an instructional memorandum on how to put things on the agenda for the meeting in compliance with the open meeting laws. We’ll meet (today) to just go over the memorandum and just answer any questions they might have.”

From the Idaho Press-Tribune

Rexburg City Council to be investigated

November 26th, 2009

A special prosecutor will investigate the Rexburg mayor and City Council for alleged violations of Idaho’s open meeting laws.

The announcement was made in an official letter from the Madison County Prosecutor’s Office to Maria Nate, who had filed a complaint with the office regarding the Nov. 4 appointment of Mayor Richard Woodland by the Rexburg City Council.

From the Rexburg Standard Journal

Idaho AG’s office rebukes Nampa charter school

November 25th, 2009

The Idaho Attorney General’s office has told Nampa Classical Academy officials the state won’t back down from pursuing information about the charter school’s possible use of the Bible and other religious texts.

From the Idaho Press-Tribune

Judge: Name names, Coeur d’Alene

October 20th, 2009

First names are a matter of public record, even if they reveal gender, First District Judge Charles Hosack ruled on Friday.

That means Wayne Hoffman will get the full names of every city of Coeur d’Alene employee as part of his public records request.

From the Coeur d’Alene Press