Newspaper Targets Remodel of Tiny Courthouse

The publisher of a tiny Northern California newspaper with an unmatched zeal for unearthing public records won a significant legal decision last week that could open new doors to court finance records.

Justice Betty Dawson of the Fifth District Court of Appeal ruled on Thursday that “under the spirit of the California Public Records Act” the Glenn County Superior Court could not withhold documents relating to remodeling work at the Orland courthouse.

The Sacramento Valley Mirror editor and publisher Tim Crews said he’s been trying for months to get information on what he says is remodeling of the tiny courthouse’s 14-feet by 14-feet judge’s chambers. The court, he said, responded with “dribbles and drabbles” of information that led to more questions about the hiring of an interior decorator, the purchase of remote-controlled blinds and other expenses that seemed outlandish for a part-time courtroom in a county that’s home to only 27,000 people.

Great time for vanity projects … after the jump.

Crews said the court executive would not give him detailed information on total expenses for the projects. So he sued — a practice that’s not unusual for him. And he won, which also is not unusual for him.

Justice Dawson was assigned to the case given the Glenn County Superior Court’s direct involvement. The justice heard arguments by telephone, said Crews’ attorney, Paul Nicholas Boylan of Davis, and ruled that the Valley Mirror should have access to the information.

California’s Public Records Act does not cover the judicial branch, a fact that some courts have used to shield information from the public. But Dawson’s ruling expanded the Act’s “spirit” to approve Crews’ records request without relying on other access authorities, including Prop. 59.

Crews said Monday afternoon that he’s still waiting for his local court to provide access to the remodeling documents.

We’d link to the Valley Mirror’s story here, but Crews said the paper has dismantled its Web site because he’s staunchly opposed to giving away editorial content for free. Here instead is coverage of the case from CalAware. 

Look for legislators to cite this case and others in the coming days as they introduce new rules requiring greater public reporting by California's courts.

— Cheryl Miller
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Comments

[Farmer]

Tim Crews is a bully. He has trouble selling his paper as he has less than 500 circulation so instead he sues the local government to help pay the bills. He has had numerous judgements against him for his lack of payments to vendors and landlords. Talk about calling the kettle black! He does his best to keep us informed just like other supermarket rags. Most of his yellow journalism is fabricated with just enough of truth to keep him from being sued. Donna will have to hire pall bearers when it is Tim's time to go!