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.

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