Open Public Records Act: 2024 Update

In New Jersey, open government is often paid lip service, but is it the reality? What protections are afforded to government employees and/or YOU when citizens seek their/your personnel records under the Open Public Records Act (“OPRA”) or the common law right of access? What is the difference between the two? Our panel, OPRA requestor’s attorney Donald Doherty, Esq., and custodian attorney James L. Plosia Jr., will discuss recent trends in public records requests, proposed legislation to curtail OPRA, and current court decisions. Additionally, hotly contested issues such as the availability of elected and appointed officials’ text messages and private emails as government records, counsel fees under the common law and the use of public records request as an alternative to discovery or union information requests will be addressed.

Program Coordinator:

• Jonathan F. Cohen, Esq. (Plosia Cohen, LLC)

Panelists:

• Donald M. Doherty, Esq. (Law Office of Donald Doherty)
• James L.Plosia, Esq. (Plosia Cohen, LLC)