Open records court decisions

1986

Tulsa Tribune Co. v. Oklahoma Horseracing Commission

The Oklahoma Supreme Court required public bodies or courts considering whether to release records to favor disclosure over denial. The party urging exemption has the burden of proof.

1996

Attorney General's Opinion 1996-26

This opinion said records custodians can't sell those records to outside organizations and not provide them to the public as well. This was later determined to be applicable to private contractors as well.

1999

Attorney General's Opinion 1999-55

This opinion negated a policy by the state Labor Department requiring those requesting records enter into written contracts. The opinion allows public entities to require information from requestors only to reasonably determine whether the request is for a commercial purpose which would allow a search fee.

1999

Attorney General's Opinion 1999-58

This opinion found that pleadings in a criminal court case are records under the law and must be made available by court clerks once they are filed with the clerk's office unless the pleading has been sealed by a court or is protected by some other confidentiality privilege.

2002