FOIA Facts: Two Steps Forward, (At Least) One Step Back
Scott A. Hodes highlights the status of FOIA legislation in Congress as well as recent White House imposed hurdles to public access to government documents.
Author archives
Scott A. Hodes is a sole practitioner in Washington, D.C., practicing Information and Privacy Law. Mr. Hodes assists clients in gaining access to government records under the FOIA, Privacy Act and other federal agency access provisions. Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Hodes was an attorney at the Department of Justice for over a decade. He served in the FBI's Freedom of Information/Privacy Act Section from 1998 until 2002 as the Acting Chief of that Section's Litigation Unit. Mr. Hodes served at the Department of Justice's Office of Information and Privacy from 1991 until 1998. His website is InfoPrivacylaw.com, and he is a member of the DC and Maryland bars. See also Mr. Hodes' blog, The FOIA blog - Everything FOIA (and government disclosure). Mr. Hodes is currently President of the American Society of Access Professionals.
FOIA Facts: Are Ombudsman The Answer?
Scott A. Hodes maintains that there are pros and cons to setting up an ombudsman’s office, and the overall scheme may not be the answer in resolving the number of disputes that arise in the disclosure of public records.
FOIA Facts: Suggestions for FOIA Amendments
Scott A. Hodes recommends four substantive ways in which agency accountability will lead to more effective and efficient processing of FOIA requests.
FOIA Facts: Making Effective FOIA Requests – Part II
Scott A. Hodes recommends three direct techniques to increase the efficient processing of your requests.
FOIA Facts: Rapid Response Team for FOIA
Scott A. Hodes recommends that federal government FOIA offices implement a rapid response team to deal with FOIA requests that are likely to lead to litigation in the short run.
FOIA Facts: Elections and the FOIA
Scott A. Hodes contends that the upcoming Congressional term will likely result in FOIA amendments, a goal which stalled in the 109th Congress.
FOIA Facts: FOIA Legislation Update
Scott A. Hodes updates the status of the Open Government Act of 2005, offering a glimmer of hope that FOIA amendments may pass this year.
FOIA Facts: The Slow Road: FOIA Litigation
Scott A. Hodes is a sole practitioner in Washington, D.C., practicing Information and Privacy Law. Mr. Hodes assists clients in gaining access to government records under the FOIA, Privacy Act and other federal agency access provisions. Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Hodes was an attorney at the Department of Justice for over a decade. He served in the FBI’s Freedom of Information/Privacy Act Section from 1998 until 2002 as the Acting Chief of that Section’s Litigation Unit. Mr. Hodes served at the Department of Justice’s Office of Information and Privacy from 1991 until 1998. His website is InfoPrivacylaw.com, and he is a member of the DC and Maryland bars.
FOIA Facts: Improving FOIA Operations
Scott A. Hodes comments on what is required to implement efficient administration of FOIA.
FOIA Facts: Who or What Constitutes Media under the FOIA?
[Editor’s note: please see the related article in this issue, Statement of Meredith Fuchs, General Counsel, The National Security Archive Before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Hearing on the Media’s Role and Responsibilities in Leaks of Classified Information.]