The press should have the same rights to open records as any individual.
A bill proposed by a relatively frequent subject of the Times editorial board on open records legislation, Rep. Marlin Schneider, D-Wisconsin Rapids, would change that.
The bill he presented last week in a state Assembly committee would restrict access to online court records in a database, which is part of the Consolidated Court Automation Programs, or CCAP. The bill would deny access to pending cases, cases where a person was found innocent or where there was no civil liability, according to the Associated Press. Also, cases where orders or charges are reopened, vacated, set side or overturned on an appeal would be removed from public view.
If the bill was passed into law - the committee did not take action on the bill - only judges, court officials, law enforcement officials, attorneys, bill collectors and accredited journalists would have access to the information.
It is good the committee did not take action on Schneider's bill because the state legislature should take no action that would place the press in a greater position for access to information than the general public.
Proponents of the bill say access to online records like these are being used by employers and others to discriminate against people.
"For many, an accusation is the same as a conviction," Schneider said, in the Associated Press report.
There likely are cases where this information is used against people, but there are also laws to protect job seekers and others from discrimination. The CCAP Web site even gives a disclaimer that employers may not use the site against prospective employees, and that people listed are innocent until proven guilty.
The Wisconsin Newspaper Association testified the proposed bill attempts to revise history by wiping the record clean for anyone not found guilty and assumes the general public cannot be trusted to view all records available, the Associated Press reported.
To prevent this information from being used against job seekers or anyone else, the state's anti-discrimination laws must be enforced. Denying access to public records is not the answer.
A bill proposed by a relatively frequent subject of the Times editorial board on open records legislation, Rep. Marlin Schneider, D-Wisconsin Rapids, would change that.
The bill he presented last week in a state Assembly committee would restrict access to online court records in a database, which is part of the Consolidated Court Automation Programs, or CCAP. The bill would deny access to pending cases, cases where a person was found innocent or where there was no civil liability, according to the Associated Press. Also, cases where orders or charges are reopened, vacated, set side or overturned on an appeal would be removed from public view.
If the bill was passed into law - the committee did not take action on the bill - only judges, court officials, law enforcement officials, attorneys, bill collectors and accredited journalists would have access to the information.
It is good the committee did not take action on Schneider's bill because the state legislature should take no action that would place the press in a greater position for access to information than the general public.
Proponents of the bill say access to online records like these are being used by employers and others to discriminate against people.
"For many, an accusation is the same as a conviction," Schneider said, in the Associated Press report.
There likely are cases where this information is used against people, but there are also laws to protect job seekers and others from discrimination. The CCAP Web site even gives a disclaimer that employers may not use the site against prospective employees, and that people listed are innocent until proven guilty.
The Wisconsin Newspaper Association testified the proposed bill attempts to revise history by wiping the record clean for anyone not found guilty and assumes the general public cannot be trusted to view all records available, the Associated Press reported.
To prevent this information from being used against job seekers or anyone else, the state's anti-discrimination laws must be enforced. Denying access to public records is not the answer.
