Coproduced with the Government Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Wisconsin

For the record

Wisconsin has seen a flurry of recent action on public records and open meetings (PROM) issues — from questions about attorney’s fees for records requesters, to an increase in requests for information about voting. In 2022, election officials in dozens of states, including Wisconsin, were inundated with public records requests a few months prior to the midterm elections.¹ Were those records requests made in the interest of transparency? Or to hinder election officials’ efforts to prepare for the upcoming election? If records requests are determined to be made for an improper purpose, what is the remedy?

Get answers to these questions and a concise rundown of other recent PROM developments at the Public Records, Open Meetings Update 2023. Experienced practitioners will offer insights and analysis on key issues and updates concerning:

• How clerks from around the state are handling open meetings in the wake of the pandemic
• Recent holdings on the balancing test for public records requests
• The fee shifting mechanism for record requesters
• The responsibilities of the Wisconsin Public Records Board

Stress test

Public officials facing intense levels of public scrutiny and heavier workloads are operating under a great deal of stress. Find out how you can address even the most stressful situations (and earn an LAU credit) without crashing and burning.

The Public Records, Open Meetings Update 2023 will help you stay current on Wisconsin laws, catch up on the latest court decisions, and conquer the challenges you face in your practice.

¹Trump backers flood election offices with requests as 2022 vote nears

Coproduced with the Government Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Wisconsin

For the record

Wisconsin has seen a flurry of recent action on public records and open meetings (PROM) issues — from questions about attorney’s fees for records requesters, to an increase in requests for information about voting. In 2022, election officials in dozens of states, including Wisconsin, were inundated with public records requests a few months prior to the midterm elections.¹ Were those records requests made in the interest of transparency? Or to hinder election officials’ efforts to prepare for the upcoming election? If records requests are determined to be made for an improper purpose, what is the remedy?

Get answers to these questions and a concise rundown of other recent PROM developments at the Public Records, Open Meetings Update 2023. Experienced practitioners will offer insights and analysis on key issues and updates concerning:

• How clerks from around the state are handling open meetings in the wake of the pandemic
• Recent holdings on the balancing test for public records requests
• The fee shifting mechanism for record requesters
• The responsibilities of the Wisconsin Public Records Board