Open Government

03.14.18

Sunshine Week and the Importance of Government Transparency

By Dan Rogan

Photo: Supreme Court of Ohio

Once again, Sunshine Week has arrived. This is the week advocates, activists, academics, the news media, and others call attention to the importance of laws that keep government records and official meetings open to the public.

03.03.17

What Does President Trump’s EPA Pick Mean for Civil Liberties?

By James Kosmatka

On February 17, the United States Senate confirmed Scott Pruitt to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. This is the first step in what will likely be a complete overhaul of the agency, given his outspoken criticism of environmental regulations and protections.

02.17.17

A Free Press: More Important Now Than Ever

By James Kosmatka

“But I want to just tell you, the false reporting by the media, by you people, the false, horrible, fake reporting makes it much harder…”

If President Trump feels hounded by the news media, imagine how they feel being threatened by the U.S.

10.21.16

Government Not Counting Deaths In Police Custody

By James Kosmatka

Advances in media and technology have brought desperately needed visibility to the pressing issue of police violence. Visibility alone, however, cannot create long-term accountability and transparency in law enforcement. That is why the successful implementation of the Deaths In Custody Reporting Act (DICRA) is crucial.

07.27.15

Transparency Is Key for Police Body Cameras

By Lisa Wurm

In a trend I hope will last, the public is paying much more attention than it once did to how law enforcement operates.  As a result, on any given day there are various community discussions, debates, and media analyses on topics, such as uses of force, racial profiling, targeting of communities of color, and police militarization.

07.17.15

A Victory for Transparency

By Shakyra Diaz

Photo by Supreme Court of Ohio

For a person paying thousands upon thousands of dollars a year to a university, which has the responsibility to mold and educate them, transparency might seem like a simple request. However, for many private institutions across the country and in Ohio, right-to-know standards have not been the norm.

03.18.15

Want the Feds Knowing You Went to a Gun Show?

By Shakyra Diaz

Photo by Kordite at Flickr Commons.

In Ohio alone, there are at least 70 public gun shows every year.

They are visited by collectors of antique firearms, historians, target shooters and hunting enthusiasts—and are often your neighbors. It’s estimated about one of every three Ohioans owns one or more guns.

03.02.15

International Relations, ACLU Style

By Kimberly Millhoan

What happens when delegates from various continents are in one room together to talk about democracy?

Last month we found out.

In early February, we met with emerging leaders representing Argentina, Botswana, the Republic of Korea, Spain, and Tajikistan as part of a professional exchange program sponsored by the U.S.

01.02.15

2016 Is Only a Year Away…

By Ellen Kubit

2015 is here. That means the 2016 presidential election is on the horizon.

Few people in Ohio want to begin thinking about the 2016 election cycle, especially on the heels of a midterm election. Between the countless advertisements, back-and-forth arguments, and non-stop campaigning, election years can be tiresome.

12.19.14

Sunset at the Statehouse

By Shakyra Diaz

As the end of the year approaches, what went on in the final days of the 130^th Ohio General Assembly?

When last I wrote about the Ohio legislature’s “lame duck” session, I provided updates on the so-called Heartbeat Bill and the lethal injection bill.

12.03.14

What Are Ohio Legislators Cooking Up Now?

By Shakyra Diaz

If you are a member of the ACLU of Ohio, you are no doubt used to hearing from us about our work. Perhaps it is no surprise an organization known for protecting the First Amendment often exercises its own right to free speech.

11.10.14

Mayor’s Courts’ Caseload Declines But Big Problems Still Exist

By Kim Schuette

The Ohio Supreme Court recently issued a new report documenting the use of mayor’s courts in 2013 and highlighting a decade-long decline in caseloads. But don’t let that fact fool you.

Sure, mayor’s courts in Ohio are hearing 14 percent fewer cases than 10 years ago, but other kinds of courts are hearing fewer cases, too.

10.22.14

Death by Secrecy

By Mike Brickner

Ohio’s death penalty has had a long and sordid history. Just look at the past decade:

» Four botched executions.

» Ten people granted clemency by the governor.

» Fifty-six recommendations from an Ohio Supreme Court taskforce of experts to revamp our broken system.

06.23.14

Government Accountability: Brought to You by You.

By Shakyra Diaz

Have you ever wanted to know more information about how the government is operating? Do you wonder what your local city council, municipal court, or the state General Assembly is up to? If you think an open government is important, then you should request a public record.