Laura Belin, Bleeding Heartland LLC, Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch, Randy Evans, and Iowa Freedom of Information Council
v.
Governor Kim Reynolds, Michael Boal, Pat Garrett, Alex Murphy, and Office of The Governor of the State of Iowa
Three reporters, two media organizations, and the Iowa Freedom of Information Council (collectively, “the Reporters”) brought suit against Governor Kim Reynolds, her office, and three members of her staff (collectively, “the governor’s office”), regarding requests for records made between April 27, 2020 and November 3, 2021, to the governor’s office. The Reporters sought declaratory and injunctive relief pursuant to Iowa Code section 22.10 regarding 45 counts of ongoing violations, or alternatively an order for mandamus. The governor’s office asserts it fulfilled the requests for records except to the extent particular documents were confidential, and asked the district court to dismiss the action. The court denied the motion. The governor’s office filed an application for interlocutory appeal, which this court granted. The governor’s office argues: (1) chapter 22 does not include a timeliness requirement for fulfillment of an open-records request, especially with respect to requests for electronic records, and even if one does apply to other government bodies it does not apply to the governor’s office because of concerns rooted in the separation of powers and executive privilege; and (2) the fulfillment of the Reporters’ requests renders the lawsuit moot.
Appellee
Laura Belin, Bleeding Heartland LLC, Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch, Randy Evans, and Iowa Freedom of Information Council
Appellant
Governor Kim Reynolds, Michael Boal, Pat Garrett, Alex Murphy, and Office of The Governor of the State of Iowa
Attorneys for the Appellee
Rita Bettis Austin
Thomas D. Story
Attorneys for the Appellant
Samuel P. Langholz
Eric Wessan
Supreme Court
Oral Argument Schedule
15-15-5
Feb 22, 2023 9:00 AM