! Electronic Records Case Settles--DOC Agrees to Provide Electronic Records in Electronic Format

The Olympian reports that the state Department of Corrections has settled a Public Record Act case after refusing to provide electronic records in an electronic format. DOC will provide the electronic records in an electronic format but now will also pay $65,000 to the requestor in attorneys' fees.


Gov. Gregoire appears to have intervened in this case and ordered DOC to quit being silly. While no one can know for sure because of attorney-client privilege, perhaps Attorney General McKenna also strongly encouraged his client, DOC, to follow the law.

Gov. Gregoire did the right thing. She deserves credit for taking a step that has a positive impact on open government. Gov. Gregoire must follow through and continue putting pressure on her agencies to follow the law. Now that she has done the right thing she should keep doing it.