No fines for Madison sheriff's FOIA violations

A district court said the sheriff's refusal to turn over names of a citizen advisory panel's members was willful and fined the sheriff -- the first known FOIA fines in the state. A circuit court in April 2009 said the violation was not willful, negating both the fines AND the attorneys' fees. Read about the district court win, and about the circuit court case and an open letter from the plaintiff in the case to the vice chair of the FOI Advisory Council. Culpeper Star-Exponent editorial.