Wyoming attorney general withdraws proposed changes to open-records law

By The Associated Press

06.19.01

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CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Wyoming Attorney General Gay Woodhouse has withdrawn proposed changes to the state open-records law that members of the news media criticized as restrictive.

Earlier she sought to include portions of the federal Freedom of Information Act in the law to give state agencies more guidance on when to release public records.

The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation asked for the changes after a lawsuit filed by the Casper Star-Tribune forced the agency to release investigative material.

The changes would have prevented the release of information that would interfere with police work, a fair trial, personal privacy and safety, among other things.

Woodhouse said the federal provisions could be adopted as policy by each individual agency.

Without the changes, proposed revisions to the state open-records law are "agreeable to everybody," she said.

Media attorney Bruce Moats praised the decision.

"I certainly appreciate that the attorney general has been willing to listen and consider the serious objections that we had," he said.

The changes would have kept records secret if the motivation to do so was "reasonable." The current law says records are public unless an agency can show that they should be kept secret.

Open-records advocates said the changes would have resulted in confusion and litigation.

Jim Angell, executive director of the Wyoming Press Association, said he was pleased by Woodhouse's removal of the federal provisions.

"It was a real wise decision on the part of the attorney general's office," he said. "It's nice that the attorney general's office realized there are serious disagreements about the investigative records."

Update

News media, state compromise on Wyoming open-records bill
Press advocate applauds measure, saying it ‘looks forward to the unique problems created by electronic data.’  07.03.01

Previous

Open-records developments reflect different mindsets
Officials in different states view public records, open government as more or less … public and open.  05.28.01