Currently Trending in Public Records Law: Government E-Mails on Private Computers, Body Camera Videos, Metadata and Other Cutting-Edge Issues

Dirty laundry and county board meetings - what do these have in common? Both could be subject to the Freedom of Information Act.

Whether and when electronic communications such as emails, text messages, social media posts and tweets are subject to public records laws is a confusing and challenging question for public officials and journalists alike. Learn when such electronic communications must be disclosed and when they may remain confidential. The topic discusses the pitfalls to be avoided by public bodies dealing with confidential communications, as well as by citizens seeking access to an open government. Understand current trends nationally so that you can keep pace with this timely and dynamic topic.

Speaker and Presenter Information

Mary Ellen Roy

Phelps Dunbar LLP

Partner in the New Orleans office of Phelps Dunbar LLP
Represents newspapers, television stations, book and magazine publishers, television networks, and movie production companies throughout the Gulf South in First Amendment, public access, copyright and trademark litigation
Listed in Super Lawyers and The Best Lawyers in America
On behalf of a national television network, she prevailed in an action to require the New Orleans coroner to produce the autopsy reports of those who died as a result of Hurricane Katrina
J.D. degree, cum laude, Harvard Law School
Can be contacted at 504-584-9254 or maryellen.roy@phelps.com

Dan Zimmerman

Phelps Dunbar LLP

Staff attorney in the New Orleans office of Phelps Dunbar LLP
Has litigated numerous public records and government access cases on behalf of news media clients
Representing a New Orleans television station, he obtained a ruling that required the city of New Orleans to produce the electronic calendar and emails of then Mayor C. Ray Nagin; prosecutors recently used entries in the calendar as evidence to convict Mr. Nagin on multiple charges of public bribery and corruption
J.D. degree, cum laude, Tulane University Law School
Can be contacted at 504-584-9365 or dan.zimmerman@phelps.com