A ruling by a Sangamon County judge could have ripple effects throughout government on the way elected officials communicate.
Judge John Schmidt has ruled that the city of Champaign must turn over e-mails and text messages generated by city council members during meetings, even those that are sent from the officials’ personal cell phones.
Attorney Don Craven says the ruling recognizes today’s rapidly-changing technology, and serves as a reminder to officials that their communications on government issues are part of the public record, no matter how that communication is transmitted.
