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Smith County judge charged, suspended

TYLER — Smith County Judge Joel Baker was booked into the Smith County jail July 17 on a misdemeanor charge of violating the Texas Open Meetings Act.

Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith said Baker turned himself in after 5 p.m. and was released by 6 p.m. Friday.

Baker is charged with three counts of violating the Texas Open Meetings Act, a misdemeanor.

A warrant was issued Thursday by a Smith County grand jury out of the 114th District Court, Smith said. Baker's bond was set at the maximum of $2,000.

Montgomery County officials indicted

A grand jury has indicted Montgomery County Judge Craig Doyal and two commissioners, charging them with violating Texas' open meetings law last year while developing a bond package for new and improved roads.

Traffic-weary voters in the rapidly growing county approved the $280 million financing proposal, but the indictments left Doyal and Commissioners Jim Clark and Charlie Riley to face criminal charges for their actions in getting it on the ballot.

El Paso ‘award’ to call attention to secrecy

The city of El Paso received dubious recognition Monday when it was named one of five finalists for a national journalism group's award meant to call attention to excessive government secrecy.

Texas Supreme Court ruling helps bar the door to public release of company records, critics say - Houston Chronicle

A Texas Supreme Court decision last year that one open records advocate said "blew a hole in the Texas Public Information Act" has been used in the past few months to shield records ranging from Uber's driver information in Houston to how much singer Enrique Iglesias was paid for a McAllen Christmas concert.

Paul Watler Speaks: Texas Supreme Court Opinions Firm Up Anti-SLAPP Rights For Online Journalists | Jackson Walker - JDSupra

The Texas Supreme Court issued two opinions firming up the right of online journalists and news platforms to use the state's anti-SLAPP law to fend off libel actions.

Source: Paul Watler Speaks: Texas Supreme Court Opinions Firm Up Anti-SLAPP Rights For Online Journalists | Jackson Walker - JDSupra

Don’t hide public notices on city website | The Star-Telegram

Is newspaper advertising a wise expenditure? If the goal is that people see it, we believe it is.

Source: Don’t hide public notices on city website | The Star-Telegram

In Defense of the First Amendment - Knight Foundation

U.S. news leaders feel less able to confront issues in court in the digital age

Source: In Defense of the First Amendment - Knight Foundation

Prosecutor will extend or restart grand jury process for TOMA investigation - Your Houston News

Six months after launching an investigation into whether some members of Montgomery County Commissioners Court violated the Texas Open Meetings Act, the Houston-based special prosecutor assigned to the case is weighing his options as the grand jury cycle comes to a close Thursday.

Source: Prosecutor will extend or restart grand jury process for TOMA investigation - Your Houston News: News

Ten Commandments for Open Meetings |

Consider the following list our Fourth Estate counsel to county commissions, city councils, and school boards everywhere on executive sessions and general government openness. Citizens should hold their elected officials to the standards below. These are Ten Commandments for Open Meetings:

ONE: Do not gather as a quorum outside of regular meetings, and do not hold special meetings without giving at least 24 hours public notice.

Moore: City continues to flail at open records law

In an increasingly complex world, issues of personal privacy increasingly collide with the public’s right to know about the actions of its government. These are important issues that warrant meaningful, informed discussion by all stakeholders. That’s a pretty simple concept, but one our city government struggles with.

Source: Moore: City continues to flail at open records law

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