NY Courts' Limits On Ethics Data Broke Law, Watchdog Says - Law360
A transparency watchdog ruled that New York’s court system violates public access laws by restricting judges’ financial disclosures. The committee determined that forcing individuals to submit nearly 1,500 separate requests to view aggregated data is an unlawful denial of access under the Freedom of Information Law. This finding challenges internal regulations that judges recently strengthened to obscure specific income and gift details. The decision highlights a critical tension between judicial internal rules and statutory public transparency requirements. Although the judiciary as a whole enjoys exemptions, the ethics commissions within the Office of Court Administration remain subject to open records laws. Consequently, the failure to export and make routinely created database records publicly available constitutes a breach of these obligations, regardless of internal ethics canon changes. This ruling is vital for open data advocates because it affirms that government financial data should be accessible in machine-readable, aggregated formats rather than hidden behind burdensome administrative hurdles. It reinforces the principle that public interest outweighs institutional secrecy, pushing for standardized, proactive disclosure of sensitive information. Ultimately, this case supports the broader goal of transforming opaque bureaucratic records into usable public data that ensures accountability and trust in the judicial branch.
Source: law360.comPublished on 2024-09-11