Virginia sheriff faces fine for refusing to disclose advisory board members
The Madison County sheriff in Virginia is required to pay a $250 fine for refusing to provide a citizen a basic list of the department's advisory board members. The sheriff said the disgruntled former employee who requested it right before the election was just out to get him. But it didn't matter who requested it or for what reasons. A public record is a public record, the judge determined. Most state public record laws don't allow agencies to approve or deny records requests based on who is asking for it or why they want it, except sometimes to distinguish commercial users or mailing lists (newsgatherers aren't usually considered commercial users). The sheriff, who might appeal, also will have to pay the requester's legal fees. See story.