ACLU of Washington Comment on Washington Supreme Court Ruling Regarding the Public Records Act

The Washington Supreme Court ruled Thursday that state legislators’ offices are subject to the state’s Public Records Act general public records disclosure mandate. The ACLU of Washington filed an amicus brief in support of a lawsuit filed by news organizations to compel state legislators’ offices to comply with the act. ACLU of Washington Senior Staff Attorney Antoinette Davis had this reaction:

“We applaud the decision of the Court, which found that individual legislators’ offices must comply with the Public Records Act. Transparency is at the heart of democracy and today’s decision affirms the right of the public to know about the work of the legislators that represent them.”