Not All E-Mails of Officials Public, Arizona Supreme Court Says

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Arizona’s Supreme Court ruled that the public does not have a right to see any and everything on a public official’s computer. Not all e-mails are public record, the court said in a suit involving the a former county manager. The purpose of the public records law, the court said, “is to open government activity to public scrutiny, not to disclose information about private citizens.” The court said disputes over whether e-mails were personal or public should be resolved through judicial review of the e-mails involved. (4/26/07)