This week on our podcast, we delve into four significant rulings on disclosure obligations and search requirements. In Georgia, a judge has ordered the Sandy Springs Police Department to release detailed incident reports previously withheld, following a legal battle with Appen Media. In Pennsylvania, a court has mandated the release of body-camera footage from a fatal police shooting, highlighting the importance of transparency. Meanwhile, in Alabama, the Central Alabama Water board has settled a lawsuit over access to legal invoices, amidst changes in their engineering firm agreements. Lastly, a federal court has upheld the Department of Education's search for student loan records, clarifying the extent of their obligations under FOIA requests. Tune in for insights into these pivotal cases shaping public access to information.

📚 Sources:

• https://roughdraftatlanta.com/2026/01/23/sandy-springs-police-records-lawsuit/
• https://birminghamwatch.org/2026/01/17/caw-prequalifies-engineers-settles-public-records-lawsuit/
• https://www.rcfp.org/bodycam-footage-deshawn-leeth/
• https://public.fastcase.com/ppbqSQpNDaJE%2F8PlIk0b8HBSVmcS9TNNu1gWNzT%2FPC8B70SauEw3H1BJoCfaGJMF

In this episode, we delve into recent developments in public records and information access. A federal court scrutinized the Department of Justice's search for archived and deleted emails in a FOIA case, requiring further verification by 2026. The Ninth Circuit finalized a ruling that EEO-1 reports from federal contractors are not protected under FOIA's Exemption 4, impacting workforce composition data disclosure. North Dakota's Attorney General clarified that agencies aren't obligated to recreate missing records, as seen in a school district's compliance with open records laws. In Tennessee, a court rejected broad Exemption 4 claims by the Tennessee Valley Authority regarding a gas pipeline project, emphasizing the need for specific justifications. Meanwhile, Washington state grapples with AI and surveillance data challenges, prompting updates to public records management practices and potential legislative action.

📚 Sources:

• https://www.foiaadvisor.com/foia-blog/2026/1/12/court-opinion-issued-jan-9-2026
• https://www.foiaadvisor.com/foia-blog/2026/1/14/foia-news-litigation-over-eeo-1-reports-continues
• https://www.kvrr.com/2026/01/15/nd-attorney-general-issues-opinion-on-open-records-request-of-williston-school-district/
• https://www.foiaadvisor.com/foia-blog/2026/1/15/court-opinions-issued-jan-12-2026
• https://mrsc.org/stay-informed/mrsc-insight/january-2026/pra-2025

This week on Records Brief, we explore recent developments in public records access across the United States. In Iowa, a judge has allowed an open-records lawsuit against the City of Davenport to proceed, addressing alleged delays in releasing a letter about a former city administrator. In Kansas, a new law has led to the denial of a media request for emails related to a potential Kansas City Chiefs stadium deal, keeping such records confidential until 2029. Finally, in Michigan, the Court of Appeals ruled that the state's FOIA law does not impose specific deadlines for fulfilling records requests, rejecting the ACLU's proposed timelines.

Records Brief is a curated weekly overview of public reporting and developments related to law enforcement video, audio, and public records release. Items are selected for relevance and operational impact and are summarized from publicly available sources.

Produced by CaseGuard, Inc. as a public-sector resource.

Content is informational and does not constitute legal advice or official guidance.

Records Brief is a curated weekly overview of public reporting and developments related to law enforcement video, audio, and public records release. Items are selected for relevance and operational impact and are summarized from publicly available sources. Produced by CaseGuard, Inc. as a public-sector resource. Content is informational and does not constitute legal advice or official guidance.

Article Links:
City of Davenport, Iowa: https://www.ourquadcities.com/news/local-news/judge-rules-against-defendants-in-open-records-lawsuit-filed-against-city-of-davenport/
Kansas City, Kansas: https://www.kmbc.com/article/kansas-city-chiefs-relocation-to-kansas-wyandotte-county-emails/69950090
City of Grand Rapids, Michigan: https://www.clarkhill.com/news-events/news/michigan-court-of-appeals-holds-no-definitive-timeline-for-fulfilling-foia-requests/