Participated in an amicus brief (with the Reporters Committee and other amici) filed with the Indiana Court of Appeals in Carroll County E911 v. Hasnie. The appeal concerns an Indiana Access to Public Records Act request by Ms. Aishah Hasnie, a TV reporter at the time of her request, to Carroll County E911 for the audio recordings of 911 calls relating to a 2016 house fire. E911 refused, contending they were investigatory records of a law enforcement agency and therefore confidential under the investigatory records exception to the APRA. The brief supports Ms. Hasnie, arguing that E911’s refusal runs contrary to APRA’s legislative purpose and its directive that the statute be interpreted liberally to advance the policy of open government. The brief also argues that under E911’s interpretation, government agencies could abuse the APRA exception. [2020]
