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Fundamentals of the Sunshine Law

Understand the principles behind sunshine laws and how best to implement them effectively.

Sunshine laws are designed to ensure that people may access governmental records and the deliberative decision-making process of elected officials in order to be informed citizens. Yet there are times when the government best protects the interests of the public or the personal information of individuals by withholding or redacting public records or meeting outside of the public eye. The principles behind sunshine laws are straightforward, yet their provisions can be difficult to apply. This topic helps legal practitioners, government employees, elected officials, and journalists to identify fundamental features of both public record request laws and open meetings laws. Without an understanding of the nuances of sunshine laws, government employees and elected officials risk bad media publicity or possibly could face disciplinary action, lawsuits, and penalties. Armed with the fundamentals of sunshine laws, journalists are equipped with the skills to better obtain information for reporting. This topic is critical for legal practitioners in state and local government law in order for them to implement sunshine laws effectively.

91 minutes
Course Exam
Certificate of Completion
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Why Lorman?

Over 37 years and 1.4 million customers worth of experience providing continuing education. Our passion is providing you world-class training to help you succeed in business and as a professional.

Agenda

Sunshine Laws

  • Principles and Purpose

Public Record Request Laws

  • What Are Public Records?
  • Who Can Make Public Record Requests?
  • May Public Record Requesters Remain Anonymous?
  • What Governmental Entities Must Comply?
  • What Are Common Exceptions That Allow Governments to Withhold Records?
  • What Are Common Procedures Provided for in Public Record Request Laws?
  • What Remedies Exist for Violations of Public Record Request Laws?

Open Meetings Laws

  • What Is a Meeting?
  • What Governmental Entities Must Comply?
  • What Are Common Exceptions That Allow Governmental Boards to Hold Closed Meetings?
  • What Are Common Notice Requirements for Open Meetings?
  • What Remedies Exist for Violations of Open Meetings Laws?

Current Sunshine Laws Cases and Controversies

  • Criminal Prosecution for Willful Violation of Sunshine Laws
  • Third Party Records and the Confidentiality Exception
  • Electronic Communications
  • Public Comment and the First Amendment
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Why Lorman?

Over 37 years and 1.4 million customers worth of experience providing continuing education. Our passion is providing you world-class training to help you succeed in business and as a professional.

Credits

OnDemand Course

Applications have not yet been submitted for Delaware, Idaho, Kentucky, Maine, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Wyoming CLE for this course. However, if you are interested in obtaining CLE for any of the listed states or have any additional credit questions please email us at [email protected] or call us at 866-352-9540.

This course was last revised on August 23, 2019.

Call 1-866-352-9540 for further credit information.

  • AK CLE 1.5
     
  • Alaska attorneys may receive 1.5 hours of continuing legal education for completing this program. Please contact the Alaska Bar Association or go to www.alaskabar.org for details regarding reciprocity with other states.
     
  • CA MCLE 1.5
     
  • Lorman Business Center, LLC. is a State Bar of California approved MCLE sponsor and this course qualifies for 1.5 CLE hours of participatory credit.
     

To earn each credit Lorman offers through the OnDemand learning platform, you need to watch 100% of the program. Also, for certain credits you will need to fulfill additional requirements which will be displayed on the "credits" tab when viewing the course.

This program does NOT qualify, nor meet the National Standard for NASBA accreditation.

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Why Lorman?

Over 37 years and 1.4 million customers worth of experience providing continuing education. Our passion is providing you world-class training to help you succeed in business and as a professional.

Faculty

Maryam Judar

Maryam Judar

Citizen Advocacy Center

  • Executive director and a community lawyer at the Citizen Advocacy Center in Elmhurst, Illinois
  • Practices in the arenas of sunshine laws and laws supporting public participation including the first amendment, ballot access, campaign finance, redistricting, and civic education
  • Publications include: 2010 Illinois Civic Health Index, National Conference on Citizenship; The Challenges to Ballot Access and the Challenges Therein, published in the DePaul Journal for Social Justice (2013); and The Goals of Democracy and Those of Economic Development: Bridging the Two While Valuing Public Participation, published in the Journal of the DuPage County Bar Association (2011)
  • 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
  • Graduated with certificates in public interest law and policy and critical race studies from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law
  • Can be contacted at 630-833-4080 or [email protected]
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Why Lorman?

Over 37 years and 1.4 million customers worth of experience providing continuing education. Our passion is providing you world-class training to help you succeed in business and as a professional.

All of your training, right here at Lorman

All of your training, right here at Lorman.

Pay once and get a full year of unlimited training in any format, any time!

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Additional benefits include:

  • State Specific Credit Tracker
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Questions? Call 877-296-2169 to speak with a real person.

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Product ID: 406301
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