Indiana Governor Names New Public Access Counselor After Predecessor's Ouster Over Backlogs
INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Governor Mike Braun announced on October 2 the appointment of Brittney Long as the state's new Public Access Counselor, replacing Jennifer Ruby, whose last day was October 1. Long starts October 5.
The public access counselor is Indiana's chief transparency watchdog, issuing advisory opinions on citizen complaints alleging violations of the Access to Public Records Act and Open Door Law. Long previously served as deputy general counsel for the Department of Natural Resources and as a magistrate judge for the Bartholomew County Circuit Court from 2022 until March, after nearly 11 years at an Indianapolis law firm.
"Brittney has the legal credentials and passion for public service that makes her an excellent fit for the job," Braun said in the announcement. Ruby's tenure was plagued by complaints: an Indianapolis Star analysis found the average time to produce opinions tripled to 248 days — far beyond the 30 days required by state law — and that she was twice as likely to rule in the government's favor as her predecessor, prompting some news organizations to threaten lawsuits over delays.
Sources: Indianapolis Star; Indiana Public Media
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
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