Monthly Archives: August 2018

Trial Court Holds that Criminal Investigatory Records Exception Does Not Apply to Body-Worn Camera Recordings

In what we believe to be a matter of first impression, on August 24, 2018, in Lewis v. County of Burlington, Judge Jacobson in Mercer County ruled that OPRA’s criminal investigatory records exception does not apply to body-worn camera recordings. By way of background, OPRA exempts “criminal investigatory records” from public access, but OPRA defines […]
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New Jersey to Expand Access to Court Records

New Jersey’s courts will expand access to Judicial records.  According to an email we received this morning from the Court that apparently was sent to all registered eCourts users, beginning on October 1, 2018, the public will have electronic access to civil case records filed in eCourts.  Right now, only attorneys who are registered with […]
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How to Challenge a Denial of Access to Records

You or your client have been denied access to records by a public agency.  What is the next step? First, make sure you have a written denial.  If you do not have a written denial, then the agency may claim that they never received your OPRA request.  If you receive a denial over the phone, […]
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New OPRA Lawsuit Seeks Copy of Criminal Complaint

On July 20, 2018, on behalf of our client Libertarians for Transparent Government (“LFTG”), a New Jersey non-profit, we filed an OPRA lawsuit against the City of Bridgeton, its Records Custodian, and one of its police officers.  We are seeking a copy of a criminal complaint filed against that police officer.  While the complaint was […]
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