Local Legal Initiative

RCFP attorneys are representing five news organizations in their federal civil rights lawsuit against the York County Clerk of Courts.

“The first two years of the Local Legal Initiative have been a huge success.”

“You don’t have to just accept what an agency says. ... You can reach out to the Reporters Committee.”

“A service like this is really important not only for reporters but for the people we do our jobs for.”

RCFP attorneys hope that successful public records lawsuits could help shape the state’s law in favor of greater transparency.

State agencies have been criticized for charging high fees for public records, blocking the public from accessing information.

Oklahoma lawyer KatieBeth Gardner joins the Reporters Committee as Local Legal Initiative attorney in the state

Journalists and the public shouldn’t have to guess at what is happening with legal challenges related to the election.

The ruling marks the first win for RCFP’s Local Legal Initiative, which launched in Tennessee, four other states this year.

Paula Knudsen Burke, Ellen Osoinach, Rachael Johnson will provide pro bono legal support to journalists, news outlets in each state.