PNA Legal
Opinion: Recording restrictions not compliant with Sunshine Act
June 20, 2014
Q: A borough is considering a policy that would prohibit recording public meetings where no vote is scheduled to take place, and would require registration at least 48 hours in
advance in order to obtain council’s approval. The policy also limits the right to record to borough residents and taxpayers, and threatens prosecution under the Pennsylvania Wiretap Act for recording a public meeting without council’s express, prior approval. Is this compliant with the Sunshine Act? Read More…
advance in order to obtain council’s approval. The policy also limits the right to record to borough residents and taxpayers, and threatens prosecution under the Pennsylvania Wiretap Act for recording a public meeting without council’s express, prior approval. Is this compliant with the Sunshine Act? Read More…
Opinion: 911 tapes may be disclosed
June 13, 2014
Q: A man threatening suicide and acting erratically was shot and killed by police officers responding to calls for help. We want to listen to the 911 calls that prompted the officers’ response. Are they public under the Right to Know Law? Read More…
Quasi-judicial deliberations may be private
February 20, 2014
Q: A zoning hearing board heard testimony on a zoning application, took public comment, and then met privately to discuss the application and public comment. After the private discussion, the board voted publicly to approve the application. Can they do that? Read More…
On-campus crime reporting law trumps RTKL
January 30, 2014
Q: There are several public colleges and universities in our circulation area, and I’m working on a story about crimes that occur on campus. I requested access to information about crimes from campus police, but they denied access based on the criminal investigation exception to the Right to Know Law. Isn’t this information public?
Read More…
Read More…
Victim information in court records public
January 16, 2014
Q: A recently-elected magisterial district judge (MDJ) has instructed his staff to redact all victim information from court records in his office. We typically don’t publish victim information, but we do use it as part of the newsgathering process. Isn’t victim information in court records public? Read More…
