HEY YOU GUYS!!!!! Sometimes right beats might and the actual human beings who are challenging their local government get to see their expensive ambitions played to fruition. TODAY IS ONE OF THOSE DAYS. We wrote at length last week about the suit Organize Now (of Textgate fame) brought against Orange County over a Dropbox account and its redacted IP addresses. Well, this morning comes the news that a judge has decided that said IP addresses are public record, meaning OrgNow won its lawsuit. HOORAY JUSTICE AT THANKSGIVING. We’ll have more when we know more, but here is the ruling.
UPDATE: Message from Organize Now:
Ninth Circuit Judge rules against Mayor Jacobs and Orange County in public records lawsuit
Background:
On Friday September 26, 2014 Organize Now, with assistance from the First Amendment Foundation, filed a lawsuit against Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs and Orange County seeking access to public records in a Dropbox account held by the Mayor. The lawsuit was filed after the county’s continued attempts to block access. This morning Judge Robert Egan in the Ninth Judicial Circuit ruled in Organize Now’s favor, requiring the release of the requested records within 30 days.
Statement:
“Today’s ruling is the third time in two years that the justice system has told Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs or her fellow commissioners to stop violating state open-record laws and its charter. Sadly, it’s again taken countless hours, thousands of scarce dollars, and weathering an onslaught of personal attacks just to secure that basic right. We urge the mayor to end her war on open government, and honor this ruling by opening her Dropbox files so citizens can access and inspect their own records.”