Right-to-Know law UNDER ATTACK AGAIN

[CNHT]

 In this story, the Righ to Know was upheld, but please read for further developments.

Here is another issue for which you can thank CNHT.
We work hard on keeping this law on the side of the citizen.
I am often asked, what does CNHT do. I admit we are so busy doing it, we have little time to talk about it.
So, I thought I'd post this....

Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Right-to-Know law gets tougher to circumvent

The New Hampshire Supreme Court has handed down an important ruling in the case of Frederick J. Murray v. N.H. Division of State Police, Special Investigation.

Its importance lies not just in the possibility it may help a distraught father find his missing daughter, but because the decision strengthens New Hampshire's Right-to-Know law.

The case involves attempts by Murray, a Weymouth, Mass., father, to access police records concerning his 23-year-old daughter, Maura, who went missing during the winter of 2004 in New Hampshire following a minor car accident.

With State Police failing to find his daughter, Murray has been seeking access to the records in hopes of being able to use them for an independent investigation.

However, the State Police, through the Attorney General's Office, has denied this request arguing the records are part of an ongoing investigation and, as such, are not subject to the state Right-to-Know law.

While the high court did not order the release of the records in its Dec. 20 ruling, it did reject the attorney general's blanket contention they be kept sealed, primarily because they were part of an ongoing investigation.

First of all, the court found there is no such blanket exemption under New Hampshire law. In fact, the court found such a void that it turned to federal law ? the Freedom of Information Act ? for guidance.

In doing so, the court took the position that the New Hampshire Right-to-Know law should be interpreted liberally.

"The purpose of the Right-to-Know Law is to ensure both the greatest possible public access to the actions, discussions and records of all public bodies, and their accountability to the people."

The court further noted: "While the statute does not provide for unrestricted access to public records, we resolve questions regarding the Right-to-Know Law with a view to providing the utmost information in order to best effectuate the statutory and constitutional objective of facilitating access to all public documents."

Moving to the federal Freedom of Information Act, the court found it was the state's responsibility to justify withholding investigative records ? that a carte blanche denial of Murray's request was not appropriate.

Effectively, the court incorporated into state jurisprudence a six-part test provided for by the FOIA. These include the ability to withhold information that may hinder an investigation, deprive someone of a fair trial, invade someone's privacy, identify confidential sources, disclose certain investigative techniques or endanger someone's life or physical safety.

The court found while the Attorney General's Office might have grounds to withhold investigative records, it has not shown that releasing the records would "interfere" with that investigation or eventual prosecution.

"Put another way," wrote the court, "merely because a piece of paper has wended its way into an investigative dossier created in anticipation of enforcement action, an agency . . . cannot automatically disdain to disclose it."

The court went on to tell the Attorney General's Office that, "Since an agency may not rely on a blanket exemption, it must meet a minimum threshold of disclosure in order to justify its refusal to disclose."

That doesn't mean, however, the court is requiring the attorney general's staff to defend every page, paragraph or word.

"The agency is not required, however, to justify its refusal on a document-by-document basis. ... the withholding should be justified category-of-document by category-of-document not file-by-file."

In addition, Murray is not seeking a public review of all documents, rather each case involves an "in camera" review ? one conducted in chambers by a judge out of the public purview.

The high court's decision sends the matter back to the trial court where the Attorney General's Office will be required to justify its decision to withhold documents. The decision will also give Fred Murray another chance to further the search for his daughter.

But perhaps more importantly, the court's decision reaffirms that New Hampshire's Right-to-Know law must be liberally interpreted, not liberally restricted ? something that should be noted by county attorneys as well as local police departments across New Hampshire.

http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061227/NEWS13/112270155

[CNHT]

This newly resurrected issue is the subject of HB 82 and 83.

My humble observations of today's hearing at the Legislative Office Building

Once again the NH Municipal Association, packing a gaggle of lawyers is attempting to gut the Right To Know Law ? because that is what NHMA lawyers do ? create loopholes in good laws. In this case its House Bill 82. HB 82 lets officials meet in secret as long as they report it later. Later is not defined.
Here are the "testimonial techniques" used by lawyers at the House Judiciary Committee hearing today, 1/17/07, on HB 82 - The End Of The Right To Know Bill Hearing:

1. Cordell Johnson, NHMA Attorney.
Technique: ?This actually makes the RTKL stronger?. Oh yea, letting a quorum of officials from a government body meet and discuss government business without posting the meeting, letting other members know, or keeping minutes, does in ?Cordell World? make RSA 91- A stronger ? like turning out the lights at night makes things brighter.

2. Peter Smith, Attorney who a few years back had some problems with hiring, by email, employees in Durham where he was on the Town Council.
Technique: ?This will make a record of what is already going on?.

3. Rep. Espiefs, sponsored what was HB 626 last year and what they are now trying to shove past the Judiciary Committee as HB 82 this year.
Technique: I don't understand how this wording will change anything.? Or better known as the: ?I only understand parts of a discussion that confirm what I want out of a piece of legislation.?

4. John Lassey, Attorney on Right to Know Commission appointed by NHMA.
Technique: ?The wording needs some work.? Also known as the ?Let's pretend this is the right thing to do.?

Warning Taxpayers!

The same old crowd is trying to make life easier for big government tax and spenders by letting them operate behind closed doors. In this case by email and phone.

Right now the House Judiciary Committee is being offered a chance to make a recorded vote on this bill. Here are their names:

Chairman: David E. Cote (d) Vice Chairman:
Janet G. Wall (d+r) Clerk: Gail C. Morrison (d)
Frances D. Potter (d+r) Bette R. Lasky (d)
Peter S. Espiefs (d) Stephen J. Shurtleff (d+r)
Maureen Baxley (d+r) Paul L. Hackel (d)
Philip Preston (d) Gary B. Richardson (d)
Lucy McV. Weber (d) Gregory M. Sorg (r)
Robert H. Rowe (r) Maureen C. Mooney (r)
Donald R. Buxton (r+d) Nancy J. Elliott (r)
Bea Francoeur (r) Anthony R. DiFruscia (r)
David J. Bettencourt (r)

If any one of these people is your State Rep. Contact them.

Here are the sponsors of the Gut The Right to Know Bill:

Rep. J. Thomas, Belk 5; Rep. J. Garrity, Rock 6; Rep. Espiefs, Ches 3

They need to be removed from office as soon as possible for even considering this bill, let alone sponsoring it. A Legislator with no respect for taxpayers serves the wrong constituents.