Jeff Roberts

Private judge sets hearing on CFOIC motion to set aside suppression order in divorce case - Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition A private judge has granted a request from the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition to intervene in a divorce case in which a suppression order makes the entire court file — and the order itself ...

A private judge has granted a request from the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition to intervene in a divorce case in which a suppression order makes the entire court file — and the order itself — unavailable to the public.

CO Supreme Court: Aurora Sentinel is a ‘citizen’ entitled to attorney fees for winning an open meetings law case - Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition The Aurora Sentinel is a “citizen” entitled to recover attorney fees and court costs for prevailing in an open meetings lawsuit against the Aurora City Council, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled.

“Any other conclusion would exclude certain members of the public — media corporations like The Sentinel — from the ability to protect public interests in open meetings and collect attorney fees for successful litigation. This is illogical and even absurd.”
coloradofoic.org/co-supreme-c...

CO Supreme Court: Aurora Sentinel is a ‘citizen’ entitled to attorney fees for winning an open meetings law case - Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition The Aurora Sentinel is a “citizen” entitled to recover attorney fees and court costs for prevailing in an open meetings lawsuit against the Aurora City Council, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled.

The Aurora Sentinel is a “citizen” entitled to recover attorney fees and court costs for prevailing in an open meetings lawsuit against the Aurora City Council, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled Tuesday.

Guide to Colorado’s Open Records and Open Meetings Laws - Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition Welcome to the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition’s “Guide to Colorado’s Open Records and Open Meetings Laws.”Previously published in booklet format, this online version of CFOIC’s sunshine law...

CFOIC has updated its free online guide to Colorado's open-government laws with links to the 2025 statutes provided by the Office of Legislative Legal Services. coloradofoic.org/open-governm...

Colorado Transparency News - 09/30/2025 Newsletter of the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition

Colorado Transparency News: Video livestreaming of legislative committees; appeal of $13,650 penalty in records case; "curing" open meetings violations; DEA, ICE raid warrants; zipline inspections; banning smart glasses; DPS board secrecy; more.

Colorado appeals court reviewing $13,650 penalty awarded to inmate in public defender records case - Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition The Colorado Court of Appeals will decide whether a judge properly ordered the state public defender to pay prison inmate Eric St. George $13,650 for its “arbitrary and capricious” denial of his reque...

The Colorado Court of Appeals will decide whether a judge properly ordered the state public defender to pay prison inmate Eric St. George $13,650 for its “arbitrary and capricious” denial of his request for a policy document.

County commissioner confronted by federal agents as ICE activity increases in Steamboat Springs, Oak Creek U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers “boxed in” Routt County Commissioner Angelica Salinas at the post office in Oak Creek after she took a video of operations from her vehicle, Salinas s...

“You absolutely have the right to record these incidents … ,” Hernandez said. “If you see (ICE) activity, don’t interfere or put yourself in a situation where you could be arrested. But you have the right to record and document.”

CFOIC, other groups and individuals urge legislature to continue video livestreaming of committee meetings - Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition Enabling video on the system that provides committee-meeting audio is a cost-efficient way to make the legislature more accessible and more accountable to Coloradans.

"When people can watch the legislative process, they can better understand the legislative process, and that can foster more civic engagement."

Colorado Supreme Court upholds ‘cure’ doctrine for open meetings law, awards attorney fees to plaintiff in Woodland Park school board case - Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition The Colorado Supreme Court affirmed a judicially created doctrine that lets public bodies “cure” violations of the Colorado Open Meetings Law at subsequent meetings that do not merely rubber-stamp ear...

The Colorado Supreme Court on Monday affirmed a judicially created doctrine that lets public bodies “cure” violations of the Colorado Open Meetings Law at subsequent meetings that do not merely rubber-stamp earlier decisions.

‘A lot of participation’ so far in legislature’s video pilot for committee meetings - Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition Nearly 9,900 people have viewed 19 legislative committee meetings since a video pilot program began July 30, the director of Legislative Council told Colorado legislative leaders.

Nearly 9,900 people have viewed 19 legislative committee meetings since a video pilot program began July 30, the director of Legislative Council told Colorado legislative leaders Thursday.

It’s good to know there will be freedom of information in the 23rd century.

In existence for just 14 months, the Estes Valley Voice files its third open-government lawsuit - Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition The Estes Valley Voice had been in existence for just four months when it filed its first open-government lawsuit. Now 14 months since it launched in June 2024, the digital news outlet has filed — rem...

The Estes Valley Voice had been in existence for just four months when it filed its first open-government lawsuit. Now 14 months since it launched in June 2024, the digital news outlet has filed — remarkably — a total of three.

Free Press, Free Country campaign and documentary will show that ‘journalism is not partisan, it’s patriotic’ - Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition Fast Forward Films launched Free Press, Free Country, a campaign to educate Coloradans about the critical importance of strong, independent journalism in a democracy. The Colorado Freedom of Informati...

CFOIC is excited to be involved with Free Press, Free Country, a new campaign to educate Coloradans about the critical importance of strong, independent journalism in a democracy.

Bennett trustees' decision to pull town's advertising from newspapers ‘egregiously unconstitutional’ - Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition A lawyer’s letter urges the Bennett trustees to rescind their “egregiously unconstitutional” decision to pull the town’s advertising from two Eastern Plains newspapers because they didn’t like an arti...

A lawyer’s letter urges the Bennett trustees to rescind their “egregiously unconstitutional” decision to pull the town’s advertising from two Eastern Plains newspapers because they didn’t like an article about a sexual assault that allegedly happened at a middle school.

Colorado Transparency News - 8/5/2025 Newsletter of the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition

Colorado Transparency News: bodycam footage fees and access; video pilot for legislative committees; Title IX defamation suits; DoBetterDNVR; Press Forward grant; ICE subpoenas; public broadcasting cuts; more.

Video pilot for legislative committees begins with briefings about impact of federal tax and spending bill - Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition People who tuned into July 30 state budget briefings for Colorado legislative leaders saw video and slides — rather than just getting an audio feed — as part of a pilot program that goes through Oct. ...

Anyone tuning in to the presentations online could see not only a wide shot of the committee but the charts and graphs that speakers were referencing. Previously, you would see nothing but an illustration of the state Capitol building under the words “Audio Only.”

The legislature made it easier to obtain police bodycam footage in Colorado, but barriers to access remain - Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition Enacted five years ago following the killings of George Floyd in Minneapolis and Elijah McClain in Aurora, Colorado’s Law Enforcement Integrity Act has made it easier to obtain police body-worn camera...

Enacted five years ago following the killings of George Floyd in Minneapolis and Elijah McClain in Aurora, Colorado’s Law Enforcement Integrity Act has made it easier to obtain police body-worn camera footage. But some barriers to access remain.

Colorado Supreme Court protects Title IX complainants from defamation claims - Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition In a landmark ruling, the Colorado Supreme Court declared that statements made in connection with a formal Title IX investigation conducted by a public school district or university cannot serve as th...

In a landmark ruling, the CO Supreme Court declared that statements made in connection with a formal Title IX investigation conducted by a public school district or university cannot serve as the basis for a defamation claim or any other civil action.

Colorado Transparency News - July 15, 2025 Newsletter of the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition

Colorado Transparency News: a state constitutional right to know; COA body-cam footage ruling; dismissal of libel lawsuit over "furries"; immigration court; crowd control data; police violence data; public comment; more.

Appeals court: Children’s Code does not bar public disclosure of blurred body-cam footage showing Lakewood officers killing 17-year-old robbery suspect - Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition Colorado’s Children’s Code does not prohibit the public disclosure of blurred body-worn camera footage of Lakewood police shooting and killing a 17-year-old robbery suspect in 2023, the Colorado Court...

Colorado’s Children’s Code does not prohibit the public disclosure of blurred body-worn camera footage of Lakewood police shooting and killing a 17-year-old robbery suspect in 2023, the Colorado Court of Appeals ruled Thursday.

Colorado Court of Appeals orders dismissal of libel lawsuit against newspaper over ‘furries’ story - Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition The Colorado Court of Appeals ordered the dismissal of a libel case against the Arvada Press because plaintiff Jeffco Kids First failed to show “actual malice” by the newspaper or that statements made...

The Colorado Court of Appeals on Thursday ordered the dismissal of a libel case against the Arvada Press because plaintiff Jeffco Kids First failed to show “actual malice” by the newspaper or that statements made in an article by reporter Rylee Dunn “were materially false.”

Should the right to know be enshrined in Colorado’s constitution? - Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition Colorado’s constitution guarantees freedom of speech and freedom of the press, broadly stating that “every person shall be free to speak, write or publish whatever he will on any subject.” Should it a...

Colorado’s constitution guarantees freedom of speech and freedom of the press, broadly stating that “every person shall be free to speak, write or publish whatever he will on any subject.”

Should it also guarantee freedom of information?

Colorado Transparency News - 6/23/2025 Newsletter of the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition

Colorado Transparency News: legislative committee video streaming; Aurora PD body-cam footage; voter database privacy; public media funding; canceling public comment; "negative" info at historic sites; more.

Video livestreaming pilot for interim committee meetings of Colorado legislature set to begin Aug. 1 - Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition Colorado legislative leaders voted 4-1 to test video coverage of General Assembly committee meetings in five rooms of the state Capitol complex from August to November.

Colorado legislative leaders voted 4-1 Wednesday to test video coverage of General Assembly committee meetings in five rooms of the state Capitol complex from August to November. #coleg #copolitics

Judge: Aurora PD must release all unedited body-cam footage of May 2024 shooting of Kilyn Lewis - Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition A judge ordered Aurora to release all unedited body-worn camera footage of police shooting and killing Kilyn Lewis, finding that the city denied 9NEWS’ requests for the video in violation of Colorado'...

A judge Monday ordered Aurora to release all unedited body-worn camera footage of police shooting and killing Kilyn Lewis, finding that the city denied 9NEWS’ requests for the video in violation of Colorado’s Law Enforcement Integrity Act.

Bennett trustees pull town's advertising from newspapers over ‘distasteful’ article about alleged sex assault at school - Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition The town of Bennett is pulling its municipal advertising from two weekly newspapers on the Eastern Plains because board members did not like an article about a sexual assault that allegedly happened i...

“The right to make editorial decisions about what to cover and how is a fundamental right of news publishers. Attempts by the government to chill reporting cross a dangerous line.”

DougCo residents plan to appeal judge’s ruling that commissioners did not violate open meetings law - Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition Three Douglas County residents plan to appeal a judge’s order rejecting their claims that county commissioners had “run roughshod” over the Colorado Open Meetings Law by discussing public business in ...

Three Douglas County residents plan to appeal a judge’s order rejecting their claims that county commissioners had “run roughshod” over the Colorado Open Meetings Law by discussing public business in a series of private, unnoticed meetings.

Colorado Transparency News - 5/15/2025 Newsletter of the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition

Colorado Transparency News: 2025 legislative session wrap-up; no override of CORA bill veto; Colorado's press shield law; Denver City Council retreat; Aurora City Council public comment; suspicious child death; RTD CORA fees; more. mailchi.mp/70857d4f3956...

Wrap-up: Veto of CORA bill, passage of NIL and wildlife-damage compensation measures marked 2025 Colorado legislative session - Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition Lawmakers made another unsuccessful attempt to weaken the Colorado Open Records Act during the 2025 state legislative session.

CFOIC's wrap-up of the 2025 Colorado legislative session.

Lawmakers drop effort to override veto of CORA bill that would have let governments take more time to process requests — except for those made by journalists. - Colorado Freedom of Information Coaliti... Gov. Jared Polis’ veto of a bill to extend Colorado Open Records Act response deadlines for requests made by the public and businesses will stand after legislators Friday abandoned their effort to ove...

Gov. Jared Polis’ veto of a bill to extend Colorado Open Records Act response deadlines for requests made by the public and businesses will stand after legislators Friday abandoned their effort to override it. #coleg #copolitics