John Davis of ClearanceJobs.com has this explanation of what a Vaughn index is – its an interesting take on explaining the FOIA world to those who aren’t conversant in the special language of the FOIA.
The FOIA Blog
The FOIA Blog focuses on issues related to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), covering topics such as government transparency, public access to federal records, and legal developments affecting FOIA requests. It discusses procedural aspects of FOIA, litigation trends, policy changes, and the impact of FOIA on public accountability. The blog also addresses related statutes and regulations governing information disclosure and privacy concerns. Published by The FOIA Blog, it serves as a resource for understanding the evolving landscape of information access laws and their practical implications for government agencies, requesters, and legal practitioners.
Latest from The FOIA Blog - Page 4
FOIA Updates: Exemption 4, ICE Sued by DC
By Scott Hodes
The Hill has this on the D.C. Attorney General’s FOIA lawsuit against ICE for information on immigration actions in the District in July of 2018. Rather than follow what should be normal law enforcement protocol and provide information to the
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FOIA Suits By Non-Profits Double Under Current Administration
By Scott Hodes
The FOIA Project has this very interesting report on FOIA lawsuits filed by non profits – it breaks the information down by administration and from 2001 on. The number of lawsuits filed during the current administration has doubled since January
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Lawsuit Filed Over DOJ Definition of a Record in FOIA
By Scott Hodes
Cause of Action has filed a lawsuit over the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) definition of a record in the processing of FOIA requests. The D.C. Circuit ruled on the issue in 2016, and basically disagreed with the way the government
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Hodes v. Treasury (IRS Private Collection Contracts)
By Scott Hodes
The U.S. District Court recently ruled (in a case I brought) against disclosure of certain information in the private collection contracts the IRS has made with four companies. Peter Reilly has written about the case and the underlying issues in
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DOJ FOIA GUIDE- 3+ Years, No Update
By Scott Hodes
The Department of Justice Guide to the Freedom of Information Act, found here, is a valuable resource to both government employees processing and litigating FOIA matters and FOIA requesters. It is the definitive substantive position of the government on
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Nevada Court follows DC Circuit Precedent
By Scott Hodes
The U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada has decided that the ruling by the D.C. Circuit in American Immigration Lawyers v. EOIR, 830 F.3d. 667, 673 (D.C. Cir. 2016) is persuasive and has ordered the government to reprocess
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My comments in Politico Article: Re: FISA Declassification/Text Message Release
By Scott Hodes
Politico has this report on the ordered declassification of FISA documents and the release of various DOJ employee text messages. I weigh in on possible Privacy Act issues with this unprecedented action.
DOJ Loses Exemption 5 Case on Congressional Records FOIA Matter
By Scott Hodes
In 2017, Congressman Jed Hensarling decided he’d instruct Executive Branch Agencies on how they should handle certain congressional records if a FOIA request were made for them. Cause of Action filed a FOIA request for the Department of Justice to
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Trump Tax FOIA Suit Argued at DC Circuit
By Scott Hodes
Law.com has this report on oral arguments on a lawsuit dismissed by the District Court of the District of Columbia for Tax Records pertaining to Donald Trump. The government argued the plaintiff hadn’t properly exhausted its remedies and got some
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