Open Government
NEW! A "Know Your Rights" Pamphlet:
Open Records
In Rhode Island
A guide to making open records requests. (Read the text only.)
Court Cases
Court Cases to make government more open and accountable are an important part of the R.I. ACLU's work . The public’s “right to know” is a critical right in a democratic society, a right that the Affiliate strives to protect.
Current and recent open government cases include:
- An Open Meetings Act (OMA) lawsuit against the Barrington School Committee.
- Block V. Mollis, which sucessfully challenged the State’s restrictive ballot access laws.
- Montiero v. City of East Providence, a suit against East Providence over ballot access restrictions.
- Fontes v. Central Fall, which sucessfully struck down a city charter provision that kept a Mayoral candidate off the ballot.
- R.I. ACLU v. Carcieri, an open records lawsuit against the Governor for refusing to release documents relating to the chain of command for state governance during the Governor’s absence from the state.
Legislation
For the 2010 session the Affiliate is continuing to push for legislation that would strengthen the state‘s Access to Public Records Act and has reintroduced a bill that would clarify the election statutes and strengthen voting rights.
In 2009 the Affiliate worked to protect access to public records and voting rights.
In 2008, the RI ACLU fought to protect the Administrative Procedures Act, voting rights, and access to public records.
Open Government in the News
January 30, 2012 - ACLU Claims Central Falls Receiver Meetings Are Being Conducted Illegally
October 20, 2011 - RI Department of Public Safety Withdraws Challenged Open Records Regulations
October 17, 2011 - ACLU Sues DMV Over License Reinstatement Rule; Challenges Agency "Making Rules Up As They Go Along"
September 6, 2011 - ACLU Sues RI Department of Public Safety Over "Bait and Switch" Procedures In Adopting Regulations
August 9, 2011 - ACLU Criticizes Department of Public Safety Proposal to Further Limit Access to Public Records
January 21, 2011 - Open Government Groups Decry State Police Regulations Limiting Access to Public Records
December 17 , 2010 - RI ACLU Opposes Proposed Restrictions to Arrest Record Information
March 4, 2010 - East Providence School Committee Sued Over Open Meetings Violation
February 1, 2010 - Open Records Suit Filed Against Department Of Corrections Over Policies Governing Pregnant Prisoners
January 12, 2010 - Judge Allows Open Meetings Case Against Barrington To Proceed
January 4, 2010 - ACLU Contests “Orwellian” Arguments Offered By Barrington School Committee to Dismiss Open Meetings Lawsuit
November 30, 2009 - RI ACLU Applauds Decision Not to Implement Secret Trials
October 8, 2009 - Court Strikes Down Law Used to Disqualify Central Falls Mayoral Candidate
September 30, 2009 - Expanded Open Meetings Lawsuit Filed Against Barrington School Committee
September 18, 2009 - ACLU Challenges Disqualification of Central Falls Mayoral Candidate
August 14, 2009 - Open Meetings Lawsuit Filed Against Barrington School Committee Over Breathalyzer Test Discussion; Fines Sought
May 29, 2009 -- Judge Strikes Down State Ballot Access Law
March 3, 2009 -- Ruling in Open Records Suit, Judge Orders Governor to Turn Over "Chain of Command" Documents to the ACLU
February 17, 2009 -- RI ACLU Sues East Providence Over Ballot Access Restrictions
February 3, 2009 -- Suit Filed Over Restrictive State Ballot Access Initiative
December 23, 2008 -- Secret Court Proceedings on the Horizion, RI ACLU Warns
December 4, 2008 -- ACLU Sues North Smithfield Police for Refusing to Release Arrest Report
August 20, 2008 -- ACLU Sues Governor for "Knowing and Willful" Violation of Open Records Laws
September 13, 2007-- ACLU Files Open Records Lawsuit Against Providence Police Department Over Video Surveillance Policies
October 5, 2005 -- ACLU Files Open Record Lawsuit Against Foster-Glocester School District
August 18, 2005 -- ACLU Asks Coventry School Committee to Discontinue Restrictive Public Comment Policy
June 1, 2005 -- ACLU Files Open Records Lawsuit Against North Smithfield
May 18, 2005 -- Rhode Island ACLU Files Request to Uncover Spy Documents After National ACLU Exposes FBI and Police Spying on Political Groups
March 8, 2005 -- ACLU Calls on Attorney General To Withdraw Opinion Allowing Public Meetings By Telephone
November 18, 2004 -- ACLU Challenges Limits on Participation in Ballot Referenda Campaigns
November 2, 2004 -- State Settles ACLU "Provisional Ballot" Lawsuit; Ballots of Voters Without ID Will Be Counted
October 29, 2004 -- ACLU Demands Change in State Voting Policy that May Disqualify Hundreds of Valid Ballots
September 16, 2004 -- Court Order Declares Lincoln School Committee Election a "Nullity"
September 14, 2004 -- ACLU Asks Court to Void Lincoln School Committee "Preliminary" Election
February 12, 2004 -- ACLU Calls For Change to Open Records Law in Response to Death of South Kingstown Man
April 21, 2003 -- Supreme Court Orders Providence to Pay Costs, Attorneys Fees in Police Misconduct Open Records Case
Providence, RI 02903