Legal Hotline

Q: I requested copies of a school district’s recording of a public meeting held earlier this week. The district denied my request claiming the recording is exempt as “personal notes […]

Q: A local agency requires citizens to notify the agency 48 hours in advance and get permission if they plan to record public meetings. The policy also threatens criminal sanctions […]

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 the rules when using the terms “March Madness,” “Sweet Sixteen,” “Final Four,” and other NCAA trademarks in advertising?  A: Advertisers cannot use National Collegiate Athletic Association trademarked […]

Q: I requested access to the names, job titles, salaries, length of service and employment contracts for members of our local police department. The agency denied access to officers’ names […]

Q: Are there any laws that protect the identity of confidential sources, and what do these laws mean for journalists in our newsroom? A: Pennsylvania’s Shield Law offers robust protection […]

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

Q: What are the rules when using terms like “Super Bowl,” “Super Sunday,” and NFL team names, logos and players in ads? * NOTE: This advice applies to commercial uses […]

Q: Are police dash and body camera videos public records under the Right-to-Know Law? A:  No, these records are not subject to public access under the RTKL. Act 22 of […]