How Illinois courts are exempt from Freedom of Information Act requests

CHICAGO (WLS) — Illinois’ Freedom of Info Act, or FOIA, is a strong device of transparency and accountability.

It permits anybody to request entry to authorities data. The data may be within the type of paperwork, datasets, and even communication through e-mail and textual content.

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However, in Illinois, the judicial department of presidency is exempt from the legislation. Courts in Illinois – on the county and state stage – are usually not at present required to adjust to disclosure necessities that apply to each different department of presidency.

This exemption shouldn’t be the norm nationwide. Statistical data from the courts is topic to open entry legal guidelines in 27 states, and 15 extra have court docket guidelines and insurance policies that make the info obtainable.

To assist shine mild on Illinois’ judicial department, Illinois Solutions is main the Courtroom Transparency Coalition, which recommends that the judicial department be added to the state’s Freedom of Info Act. You possibly can learn extra about this push and FOIA at bettergov.org.