Northeastern University

The State of Public Records in Mass

Public Records in Massachusetts: Out of Public Reach Public Agencies in MA Thwart Public Records by Charging Exorbitant Fees
The Boston Globe September 24, 2009
>>Somerville asks blogger to pay $200,000

Thanks to Legal Assistance from NU Law students and Bingham McCutchen LLC, First Amendment Center Wins its First Public Records Lawsuit
The Patriot Ledger June 18, 2009


The fall edition of CommonWealth Magazine explores the state of public records access in Mass. -- a right that is "flouted by officials at all levels of government."

Illustration by Polly Becker for CommonWealth Magazine

Special Reports

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Connecticut:

Connecticut FOI Commission - a workable model for other states.
By William S. Fish, Jr., and Paul Guggina
>>Connecticut's commission has its warts, but is citizen-friendly



Vermont:


Vermont's public records law: New England's worst?
By Tom Kearney
>>While Vermont may be one of the most liberal and Democratic states in the nation, its right-to-know laws need a serious overhaul.

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New England First Amendment Center
School of Journalism
Northeastern University
102 Lake Hall
Boston, MA 02115-5000
Telephone: (617) 373-5120 or (617) 373-4198

New England First Amendment Coalition
P.O. Box 15
Niantic, CT 06357



The First Amendment

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."



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First Amendment Center in the News
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