Illinois Looking to Reinforce FOIA Exemption for State's Attorneys

Rest of judicial branch

When someone writes a law forbidding the already forbidden, we have to suppose that whatever it is, they really don't like it at all. It's like wearing a belt and suspenders. Damned if you're going to let your pants fall down.

Last month Illinois state senator Kwame Raoul, a Hyde Park Democrat, introduced a bill to modify the state's Freedom of Information Act. On the surface, it looks like a very modest modification. The present law requires any "public body" in Illinois to turn over public records on request—subject to reasonable restrictions involving personal privacy and the like. The law defines "public body" as "any legislative, executive, administrative, or advisory bodies of the State, state universities and colleges, counties, townships, cities, villages . . ." And so forth.