Transparency

New Mexico’s Open Government Foundation Files Lawsuits Demanding Transparency in College Athlete Revenue-Sharing Contracts

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In June 2021, the discussion around whether college athletes’ name, image, and likeness (NIL) contracts should be shielded from public disclosure took center stage. This conversation arose during a pivotal time as the NCAA accepted that athletes could earn endorsement income. At that moment, the Uniform Law Commission (ULC) was tasked with creating model legislation for states to use regarding NIL agreements, raising a critical legal question about the transparency of such contracts. The NCAA mandated that universities collect athletes’ NIL contracts to monitor compliance with existing regulations prohibiting pay-for-play arrangements. This requirement sparked considerable … Read more

California Legislature Moves to Unmask Law Enforcement, Boost Transparency Amid Immigration Raids

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LOS ANGELES — The California Legislature took a significant step Thursday by passing two bills aimed at increasing transparency for law enforcement officials on duty. These measures prohibit on-duty officers, including federal immigration agents, from concealing their identities with masks and require them to properly identify themselves. Senate Bill 627, co-authored by Senators Scott Wiener of San Francisco and Jesse Arreguín of Berkeley, includes specific exemptions for tactical units such as SWAT teams. The bill was introduced in response to recent immigration enforcement activities in Los Angeles, which involved federal officers wearing face coverings during … Read more

Lawsuit Demands Release of Brawl Documents Amid Calls for Transparency in Viral Cincinnati Incident

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CINCINNATI — A recent lawsuit aims to bring transparency to a widely publicized brawl that occurred in downtown Cincinnati earlier this summer. The legal action, initiated against the Hamilton County Clerk of Courts, seeks the release of documents related to Alex Tchervinski’s criminal case. Tchervinski, 45, was charged with disorderly conduct connected to the event. The altercation took place on July 26 on West Fourth and Elm streets, where it reportedly escalated from a verbal confrontation into a chaotic physical fight. Video footage captured during the incident shows a Black man in a red shirt … Read more

Judge Dashes Hopes for Epstein Grand Jury Transparency as Trump Administration Faces Pressure to Release Investigative Files

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NEW YORK — The recent request by Donald Trump’s Department of Justice to unseal grand jury transcripts related to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell has intensified skepticism among critics, who see it as a retreat from a commitment to transparency in high-profile investigations. Many are expressing frustration that the move does not address the ongoing public demand for clarity concerning these criminal cases. Court documents related to this request revealed that only two law enforcement officials provided testimony during the grand jury sessions in New York, casting doubt on the expectation that unsealing these transcripts … Read more