Member News

Group asks appeals court to uphold electronic records decision

A coalition of government transparency advocates have asked Wisconsin appeals court judges to reject a state lawmaker’s argument that he isn’t required to provide records electronically. Assistant Attorney General Jennifer Vandermeuse’s response to the coalition argued that Lueders’ request for the records “in electronic form, as an email folder or on a flash drive or CD” was “ambiguous” and not specifically for the files in native format.

She also wrote that the claim records should be “substantially as good” as the original isn’t the proper standard, because it’s not found in state statutes. It originates from the Attorney General’s Compliance Guide and an Executive Order by Gov. Scott Walker — sources that “merely offer guidance.”

Wisconsin Newspaper Association