Peter Guffin Testifies Before Maine SJC on the Concept of “Public” Information in Hearing on “Access to Electronic Court Records”

The question of what constitutes “public” information is still an open issue following the public hearing on 6/7/18 before the Maine Supreme Judicial Court on the subject “Access to Electronic Court Records.” 

As Chief Justice Saufley opened the public hearing, she made clear that this question was of topmost concern to the court and promised that there will be more to come from the court on that subject in the months ahead.

The concept of “public” information is central to the privacy versus transparency discussion facing state court systems and government agencies around the country as they enter into the digital age.

Pierce Atwood partner Peter Guffin testified at the hearing and directed his comments to the concept of “public” and what it means to say a court record is public information.  His comments, which were filed with the court, can be found here.

Peter Guffin is chair of Pierce Atwood’s Privacy & Data Security Practice Group, a Visiting Professor of Practice at the University of Maine School of Law, and co-director of the school’s Privacy Law Program. Peter is a frequent speaker and author on issues of privacy and cybersecurity.