Access, Freedom of Information Act & Open Meetings Act

Access, FOIA and Open Meetings Counsel for Media, Business and Public Transparency Matters

Our media and First Amendment attorneys represent news organizations, broadcasters, publishers, advocacy groups, businesses, and other clients in matters involving access to public records, public meetings, court proceedings, and government information. Our Team helps clients pursue, challenge, and enforce rights under federal and state public records laws, including the federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Michigan’s FOIA, as well as state open meetings laws, including Michigan’s Open Meetings Act (OMA), and related public access and transparency laws. We assist with denied or delayed records requests, improper meeting closures, courtroom access issues, public body transparency disputes, administrative appeals, negotiations with public entities, and litigation when necessary.

Access to reliable public information remains essential for journalists, broadcasters, digital publishers, businesses, and members of the public seeking to understand government action and inform the public. Our attorneys provide practical guidance at every stage of the process, from drafting and refining public records requests to responding to denials, negotiating access, pursuing appeals, and litigating disputes involving government records, public meetings, law enforcement materials, digital communications, court records, and other information held by public bodies.

As government communication, public records, and newsgathering continue to evolve, access issues increasingly involve emails, text messages, social media, digital files, body camera footage, databases, artificial intelligence tools, automated decision-making systems, and other emerging technologies. Butzel helps clients navigate these modern transparency challenges while protecting First Amendment values, promoting public accountability, and positioning media, broadcast, advocacy, business, and digital content clients to address today’s access disputes and the government transparency issues taking shape across new technologies and platforms.

News

Successfully obtained Show Cause Order upon filing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) suit with public body settling as a result

Represented newspaper in lawsuit under Michigan Freedom of Information Act for release of text messages involving Detroit Mayor Kilpatrick and his Chief of Staff; Detroit News v. City of Detroit, Michigan Supreme Court Docket No. 135841, Michigan Court of Appeals

Closure of voir dire in first post 9-11 terrorism trial; United States v. Koubriti, 252 F. Supp. 2d 424, 31 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 1940 (E.D. Mich. 2003)

Closure of immigration proceedings; Detroit Free Press v. Ashcroft, 303 F.3d 681, 30 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 2313 (6th Cir. 2002)

Represented client in Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) matter; Detroit News, Inc. v. Policemen & Firemen Ret. Sys., 252 Mich. App. 59; 651 N.W.2d 127 (2002)

Represented client in Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) case involving wage and other information; The Detroit News v. Wayne County, Docket No. 235831 (Mich. App. 2002) (unpublished)

Represented client regarding court access involving murder trial arising out of “same sex-crush” arising on Jenny Jones show; Michigan v. Schmitz, 24 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 2535 (Mich. App. 1996)

Represented client in matter relating to access to court records; Detroit News, Inc. v. Recorder's Court Judge, 202 Mich. App. 595 (1993)

Advise and represent media entities throughout Michigan and the United States on obtaining records under Michigan’s Freedom of Information Act, including handling administrative appeals, negotiating resolution, and pursuing legal action

Advise and represent media entities throughout Michigan on Michigan’s Open Meetings Act, including challenging closures informally, negotiating resolution, and pursuing legal action