Video

  • 14 minutes

Exceptions to OML - Closed Meetings

 
Are closed meetings mandatory or discretionary? What is the purpose and notice requirements for closed meetings? Is action allowed during a closed meeting? What, if any, are the minutes requirements for closed meetings? In this 13-minute video our speaker, Maryam Judar, answers these questions. Closed meetings are almost always discretionary under open meetings laws. There are common exceptions however such as litigation, preliminary documents evidencing deliberation on policy issues, etc. Ms. Judar discusses case examples regarding action being allowed. She also explains that there may be no requirements for minutes of closed meetings, but there could be equal requirements or general descriptions. Closed session minutes are subject to discovery, and open meetings laws do not create evidentiary privilege.

Maryam Judar is the executive director and a community lawyer at the Citizen Advocacy Center in Elmhurst, Illinois. She practices in the arenas of sunshine laws and laws supporting public participation including the First Amendment, ballot access, campaign finance, redistricting, and civic education. Ms. Judar was nominated to the state legislative Task Force on Civic Education in 2013, which resulted in the passage of legislation bringing civic education back to Illinois high schools as a graduation requirement.
Runtime: 13 minutes

Faculty

Maryam Judar

Maryam Judar

Citizen Advocacy Center