Legal Hotline

Q: Is there a rule in Pennsylvania or federal law that restricts last-minute political ads? A: There is no federal law or regulation that prohibits last-minute political ads in newspapers, […]

Q: We want to review a criminal complaint filed with the county court of common pleas as part of a murder prosecution.  Is this record public under the Right-to-Know Law, […]

Q: What are some of the issues we need to consider when reviewing political advertising? A: Financing, required disclosures, timing, rates and defamation issues arise in the context of  political […]

Q: I’d like to review emergency time response logs from our county dispatch center related to fire, police and EMS. When I asked for access, the dispatch chief said 911 […]

Q: I submitted an RTKL request to a local agency’s RTKL officer on Monday morning via email, but didn’t get a response until Friday, when she “acknowledged receipt” of my […]

Q: I believe the Sunshine Act may have been violated. Are there penalties for violations and if so, how do I pursue them? A:  The Sunshine Act allows for the […]

Q: I filed a Right-to-Know request asking to inspect records. I want to look at the records to help decide which are most relevant, and to reduce copy fees. The […]

Q: Are 911 call recordings and transcripts public records under the Right-to-Know Law? A: The Right-to-Know Law allows agencies to deny access to 911 audio recordings and transcripts, but it […]

Q: The Sunshine Act requires agencies to provide agendas in advance of public meetings, but some local agencies are providing agendas that list generic or all-encompassing subjects that have little […]