How we represent the public
When we file a lawsuit on behalf of the public, we represent ourselves, not individual people or agencies.
​We do this for several reasons:
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We serve the public, not one client. If we represented individuals, we would have to prioritize that person’s interests over those of the public. When we take legal action, it’s to fix problems that affect many people, not just one situation.
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We can choose cases with a broader impact. When we file a lawsuit, it’s usually because the issue affects many people — not just one request or one dispute.
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We avoid conflicts of interest. Acting as a lawyer for individuals or agencies could limit our ability to challenge government actions in the future.
Our Legal Actions
We have filed more than 30 lawsuits on behalf of the public, with nine filed since 2024 when we were finally able to hire a Legal Director. We have also filed more than 21 amicus — Latin for “friend of the court” — briefs in other cases, detailing for the court how a specific ruling would impact the public’s rights. The majority of these cases stem from violations of the Inspection of Public Records Act, but a few arise from offenses involving the Open Meetings Act or the First Amendment.
![Timeline 2 [Converted].png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4bad1c_2291131ff2594787a35879a539954caf~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_977,h_453,al_c,q_90,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/Timeline%202%20%5BConverted%5D.png)
CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION
Every November, we hold an all-day CLE on transparency laws, featuring presentations by judges and experts. Attorneys get CLE credits, but members of the public are also welcome.
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We will keep you updated as we approach this year’s event.
