“With broad public access to information about how state and local governments operate, citizens and the media can play a watchful role in curbing wasteful government spending and guarding against corruption and misconduct.”
New Jersey Supreme Court Chief Justice Rabner, Burnett v. Cty. of Bergen, 198 N.J. 408, 414 (2009)
Freedom of information is the very foundation of all the freedoms that the First Amendment was intended to guarantee. We believe that government transparency is a hallmark of a democratic society and that the public is entitled to know how their government officials conduct business and how their tax dollars are spent. Too often, however, public agencies stand in the way of transparency and seek to shield information from the public.
The Stein Public Interest Center represents journalists, newspapers, activists, nonprofit organizations, and business entities in the quest for public records. Over the years, our attorneys have filed hundreds of public records lawsuits to help requestors gain access to records such as budgets, legal invoices, public meeting minutes, executive session meeting minutes, investigation reports, payroll records, email communications, social media accounts, and many other records that shed light on the operations of government.
Our attorneys have participated in several landmark cases regarding government transparency. These include published opinions by the Appellate Division and Supreme Court of New Jersey establishing the right of out-of-state requestors to file OPRA requests, concluding that the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is a public agency subject to OPRA, limiting the scope of the application of OPRA’s privacy provision, limiting a public agency’s right to sue records’ requestors, and clarifying the state’s conflict of interest laws for planning board applications.
Significant Cases
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Piscitelli v. City of Garfield Zoning Bd., 237 N.J. 333 (2019)
Amicus brief in case regarding standards for conflicts of interest in local planning board more... -
Scheeler v. Atl. Cnty. Mun. Joint Ins. Fund, 454 N.J. Super. 621 (App. Div. 2018)
Lawsuit and appeal regarding right of non-citizens to file OPRA requests more... -
Brennan v. Bergen County Prosecutor's Office, 233 N.J. 330 (2018)
Amicus brief in OPRA case seeking names and addresses of winning bidders at public auction more... -
Wronko v. City of Newark, Docket No. ESX-L-1238-18
Lawsuit seeking access to Newark's bid for Amazon's Second Headquarters (Amazon HQ2) more... - Appeal resulting in decision that trial courts have authority to impose willful violation penalties in OPRA cases more...
- Appeal regarding whether a public agency may sue an OPRA requestor more...
Press Releases
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New Jersey Supreme Court Issues Important Ruling on Potential Conflict of Interest | March 27. 2019
The Supreme Court of New Jersey ruled in the case of Piscitelli v. City of Garfield Zoning Board of Adjustment on an important case involving potential conflicts of interests of public officials. more... -
Lawsuit Seeks Newark's Amazon HQ2 Proposal | April 4, 2018
On February 20, 2018, Pashman Stein Walder Hayden partner CJ Griffin filed an OPRA lawsuit against the City of Newark on behalf of long-time client Steven Wronko. The lawsuit seeks access to a copy of Newark's Amazon HQ2 proposal. more... -
PSWH Files NJ Supreme Court Amicus Briefs Dealing with Transparency | September 26, 2017
Recently, Pashman Stein Walder Hayden has filed several amicus curiae briefs in pending Supreme Court appeals dealing with transparency issues: more...
News Coverage
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Justice Gary S. Stein Public Interest Center Releases its 2020 Year in Review.
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Supreme Court Rules For Brennan In OPRA Case | New Jersey Globe | May 23, 2019
Brennan v. Bergen County Prosecutor's Office, 233 N.J. 330 (2018) more... -
Appellate Court: OPRA Not Limited to Jersey Citizens
Scheeler v. Atl. Cnty. Mun. Joint Ins. Fund, 454 N.J. Super. 621 (App. Div. 2018) more... - Brennan v. Bergen County Prosecutor's Office, 233 N.J. 330 (2018) more...
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Supreme Court's OPRA Ruling Represents a Backward Step | New Jersey Law Journal | September 1, 2017
Matter of New Jersey Firemen's Association Obligation to Provide Relief Application Under Open Public Records Act, 230 N.J. 258 (2017) more... -
Supreme Court Rules OPRA Applies to Email, Other Electronic Data | NJSPOTLIGHT | June 21, 2017
Brennan v. Bergen County Prosecutor's Office, 233 N.J. 330 (2018) more...
Blog
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New Jersey Supreme Court Grants Petition for Certification | November 1, 2019
Government transparency is one of our core focus areas and we have litigated hundreds of Open Public Records Act (OPRA) cases. more...