Public Records O-Rama

I spent all of Friday at a seminar on public records laws and open meeting laws in Arizona. I know it sounds very very exciting but...surprise...it was so extremely boring I had a very real scare that I would fall into an irreversible coma. First, there was this law partner at a private firm that spoke to us like we were in kindergarten. He asked us questions about why we have public records laws....first of all, who cares. People gave various answers which he thought were "good" but they were not completely correct -- I guess he believed that he knew the one and only answer to that question. Which, quite honestly, I don't remember him saying. He just liked telling other people that their answer was wrong. (Which is very much in line with all of the partners I've had experiences with.)

As an aside, public records laws are the rules that require government entities to produce government documents upon request. For example, if you want a copy of documents relating to a piece of property you own, you can ask for those documents and all you have to pay for is the copying costs. In other words, the government cannot hide those documents from you. At the federal level, it's called the Freedom of Information Act.

So, I decide to take that bull by the horns. I mean, I can already tell it's going to be a long day and I need to spice this up. Like I said...there's a grave danger of falling into a coma. I raise my hand and say, "As Americans, we have an inherent distrust of Government. I mean, our country was created as an alternative to a deceitful, tyrannical government. It was very important to our Founders that government be transparent. That is a principle that we, as Americans, believe is very important to the functioning of our government. These laws were created with those fundamental principles in mind." The law partner said, "Yes...that could be one of the reasons." I said, "No...that IS the reason." Silence. Awwww, how nice, I've made another friend. What the hell else did that guy think the answer was? He probably thought he had some kind of hand in the freedom of information laws. This, of course, is a major reason why I don't work in the private sector anymore. I no longer have any tolerance for pontificating, egotistical law partners who are wrong. You really need to put up with a lot of crap in a law firm and I've done more than my fair share. Am I digressing? When do I not digress?

Later on there was the metro editor of the Arizona Republic. Let me just say that I've never heard anything nice about the Arizona Republic. In fact, 99% of the time that newspaper is mentioned I see an eye roll. When someone says that information they received was from the Arizona Republic, the other person usually laughs. I found that pretty shocking for the big newspaper in Phoenix. I used to live in Northern Virginia where The Washington Post was the big paper and even though I thought their editorials were full of crap most of the time -- involuntary eye roll -- I didn't think that everything they wrote was completely false. The Arizona Republic, on the other hand, is commonly thought to be completely fabricated. Crazy. So, this guy is already suspect simply by virtue of who he works for. (I checked his pants to make sure they weren't on fire.) He first told us that he also writes a blog called Arizona Greenday or something. He then said, "Yes, I named it after the punk rock group." Whoa....punk rock group? Green Day? This guy is completely out of touch. Since when was Green Day a punk group? He looked like he was in his 40s. Does the name the Sex Pistols mean anything to him? Adam Ant? Hello? Green Day is a punk group like Barry Manilow is a metal group. What would he think of a real punk group? What does he think punk is? Enough said. I didn't hear anything else he said because I just flipped the switch in my head and started texting people and playing brickbreaker on my blackberry. (Which, incidentally, I'm horrible at. There is no valid reason why I would every buy a playstation or X-Box 360 because I really, really am bad at those games and they frustrate the heck out of me.)

I need a life.

Comments

[gr]

I was a lawyer myself for awhile, and went through my share of coma-inducing CLEs. Somehow I always felt dumber for having attended them. I spent some time working FOIA issues and other related information laws when I worked for a Federal agency, and I honestly can't think of another reason better than the one you gave for the public records laws. Good answer.

[Destructo]

Thanks for that comment. I appreciate what you said about the reason for the public records law and you really made my day by saying that! Also, it's nice to know that someone else thinks that CLEs often make you dumber. In Arizona we have to have 25 hours a year. I feel like all I do is sit through CLEs around here. I'm shocked when people comment about how good that CLE was afterwards when I really thought the whole thing was a waste.

[G R]

If I may paraphrase Wayne to Garth "CLE is punishment for shoplifting in some countries"...25 hours is a lot. Anyway, I'll tell you something else now that I've gone over some of what you've posted. No advice or telling you what I think you should feel (I hate getting that). All I can say is that from where I sit, looks to me like you don't need a life...you HAVE a life...a pretty awesome one that a lot of people would envy. Just saying.

[Destructo]

Yeah...you're right about the life thing. I get caught up in the trivial minutia all the time and I forget to focus on the big picture. Like when will I ever find a job that is exciting and when will I grow up and settle down? There are no known answers to those two questions at this time. Also, are the terms trivial and minutia redundant?