Public Records, Open Meetings Update 2026

  • Webcast seminar
  • OnDemand seminar
Up to 4.0 Credit Hours
View schedule and faculty
Public Records, Open Meetings Update 2026

Co-produced with the Government Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Wisconsin

New cases. New tech. New disclosure questions.

Public records and open meetings law sits at the intersection of government accountability and legal complexity—and it keeps evolving. Courts are issuing new decisions on what must be disclosed, who can seek mandamus for delayed responses, and how judicial privacy protections apply. Emerging technologies are raising fresh questions about what constitutes a public record and how compliance obligations apply to digital communications and information systems.

The Public Records, Open Meetings Update 2026 brings together practitioners for a focused half-day review of the legal developments, case law, and practical issues shaping Wisconsin public records and open meetings compliance.

8:30 am
Case law Updates

Tom Kamenick

  • Wisconsin Voters Alliance v. Secord (SCOWIS, anticipated Summer 2026) – Notice of voter eligibility forms
  • Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce v. DOJ (Court of Appeals, Apr. 29, 2026) – Mandamus claim for delay in responding to records requests
  • Grys-Luecht v. Town of Grant (Circuit Court, anticipated Summer 2026) – More than 40 public records and open meetings law claims
  • Invisible Institute v. DOJ (Circuit Court, Apr. 28, 2026; on appeal) – DOJ list of approximately 16,000 law enforcement officers
  • State ex rel. Brattset v. Town of Palmyra (Circuit Court, Nov. 6, 2025) – Open meetings law claims involving notices and closed sessions
9:20 am
Employment Records

Scott Brown, Jim Carroll

  • Access to and disclosure of law enforcement personnel records
  • Handling workplace investigation records and confidentiality considerations
  • Notice requirements and procedures for releasing employee records
10:10 am
Break
10:25 am
Judicial Privacy – Wis. Stat. § 757.07 (Act 235)

Holly L. Fulkerson

  • Protecting personal information of judicial officers and immediate family members under Wis. Stat. § 757.07
  • Redacting addresses, phone numbers, and license plate information pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 19.36(10)(b)
  • Completing CS-316/317 forms through the Director of State Courts, interagency information sharing, and recent statutory amendments to Wis. Stat. § 757.07
11:15 am
Technology and the Public Records Law

Paul M. Ferguson

  • Examining application of public records law to emerging technologies
  • Explore challenges new technologies present for public records compliance and access
  • Evolving legal and practical considerations in technology-related records requests
12:05 pm
Program Concludes

Program Chair

Peter J. Block
Milwaukee City Attorney’s Office · Milwaukee

Presenters

Scott F. Brown
Milwaukee County Corporation Counsel · Milwaukee
James M. Carroll
Buelow Vetter Buikema Olson & Vliet, LLC · Waukesha
Paul M. Ferguson
Wisconsin Attorney General's Office · Madison
Holly L. Fulkerson
Wisconsin Department of Transportation · Madison
Tom Kamenick
Wisconsin Transparency Project · Port Washington

  • Gain practical insight into recent case law developments affecting public records access, open meetings compliance, and agency response obligations
  • Develop strategies for handling employment records requests while balancing transparency requirements and confidentiality concerns
  • Implement procedures for complying with judicial privacy statutes, required redactions, and related disclosure restrictions under Wis. Stat. § 757.07
  • Better navigate technology-related records requests and emerging issues involving electronic communications, digital records, and evolving information systems
  • Government lawyers
  • Labor and employment lawyers
  • Municipal lawyers
  • Appellate lawyers
  • Civil rights lawyers

Book Bonus!

Wisconsin Public Records and Open Meetings Handbook
Save 25% on Wisconsin Public Records and Open Meetings Handbook.* This practical guide covers Wisconsin public records and open meetings law from start to finish, giving government lawyers, municipal attorneys, and practitioners a reliable reference for navigating disclosure obligations, exemptions, and compliance requirements. Use discount code CA3977 when you order online or by calling (800) 728-7788.

*Discount applies to both print and digital Books Unbound editions of this title and cannot be applied to previous purchases. Offer valid through 12/31/27. For Books Unbound users, discount may be applied to purchase of individual Books Unbound title only and may not be used on the purchase of libraries. Discount cannot be combined with any other offers.

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