New Jersey Open Records 
New Jersey laws and court cases
New Jersey Open Public Records Act
OPRA (external link)
New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act
State Statutes from the NJ Legislature's webpage
The Government Records Council is the administrative body in New Jersey that enforces the Open Public Records Act.
Projects and Happenings
What's happening on New Jersey's open government front? See update at NJ Local Briefs (Last updated 11/08/07)
The Open Public Meetings Act is enforced in the New Jersey Superior Court. See Lawnside Lawsuit for an activist's pro se lawsuit against a Borough government in Camden County, New Jersey.
A "model Sunshine Ordinance" for New Jersey municipalities that are chartered under a form of government (i.e. the "Faulkner Act") that permits citizens to initiate ordinances by petition and have them passed by the voters by ballot referendum.
One of the main reasons why New Jersey local governments so frequently disobey the Open Public Meetings Act is because the county prosecutors refuse to enforce it. See Monmouth Prosecutor's brush-off. Also see, Burlington Prosecutor's response.
Sunshine Troublemaker of the Week
New Jersey resident (and active WikiFOIAN!) John Paff received the coveted STOTW award the week of September 26, 2007. Read all about it, and see what other states have citizens that have earned the award, here.
Sunshine Activist
New Jersey citizen John Paff has been interviewed for his work with open records. Read the interview, and those from other Sunshine Activists, here.
Police Disciplinary Records
Learn more about obtaining police disciplinary records in New Jersey
Public Meeting Minutes
For more information
Open Government Guide to New Jersey's open records legislation by The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
Letter Generator
Generate an open records request that conforms to New Jersey's requirements
(The letter the above link will generate may get you the requested record. Users should note, however, that the Government Records Council has issued an advisory ruling that record custodians may insist upon having the requestor complete the agency's official records request form. For a copy of this advisory opinion, click here. Many state agencies will reliably respond to an on-line form available here.)
New Jersey contacts (where to send your request)
This list contains contact information for New Jersey School Superintendents, Assistant Superintendents and Business Officers.
State Salary Database
the Asbury Park Press has assembled the following listing from a variety of sources, and it is current through 2006: New Jersey Public Employees 2006
To see what other states have salary databases, click here.
Blogs, websites and resources that use open records
(add yours!)
The Barnegat Press
The County Watchers (Union County)
Hoboken's Activist Community
Long Hill Observer
New Jersey Foundation for Open Government
NJ Justice Oversight
VoteRoxbury (Roxbury Township--Morris County Board of Education)
Union County Watchdog
Press
2008
July 2, 2008: Longport says non-N.J. resident not entitled to public records
June 23, 2008: Camden creating searchable database for its records
June 20, 2008: DEP and records requests / A better solution
June 19, 2008: Hearings will continue on the release of disciplinary files
June 19, 2008: Court ruling is a first
June 17, 2008: Public document copy plan postponed, would hike rates
June 15, 2008: A step back on open records
June 15, 2008: State may hike cost of DEP records
June 13, 2008: Lawsuit resolution expected
June 13, 2008: Records case is based on the common law
June 11, 2008: Camden school budget is under wraps
June 6, 2008: State records council rules e-mails are public records
June 6, 2008: Clayton man sues Glouco over public record access
June 5, 2008: County sued over records
June 3, 2008: Internet Posting of Court Records Considered
June 3, 2008: Should you see Corzine e-mails?
June 3, 2008: State League of Municipalities faces public records challenge
June 1, 2008: Corzine stalling on details of Katz e-mails
May 30, 2008: Corzine, Katz lose bid to keep e-mails secret
May 29, 2008: Open-records activists get their day in court
May 29, 2008: Access to court records debated before justices
May 28, 2008: Open-records monitor is not so open
May 27, 2008: OPRA watchdog, snarled in red tape, needs watchdog itself
May 8, 2008: Settlement is going public
May 8, 2008: Lawnside clerk: Ordinance is in violation of state law
April 29, 2008: Court sides with state in open records case
April 28, 2008: NJ court upholds $1,900 fee for public records
April 26, 2008: Carbone: Dark side to the Sunshine Law
April 23, 2008: Open-records activist targets Washington
April 9, 2008: Atlantic City's redactions may draw legal action
April 1, 2008: N.J. courts send data on lawyers to Web Site operator
April 1, 2008: Court rules for both sides in cell phone case
March 31, 2008: Appellate Court Hands Mason A Victory
March 31, 2008: Toms River must pay lawyer fees for withholding letter, panel rules
March 18, 2008: Lawmakers to push for improved public access to government
March 13, 2008: Don't hit that delete button
March 13, 2008: Web site: Courts withhold public data
March 12, 2008: Web site claims NJ courts withholding public information
March 11, 2008: Legislators push Corzine to probe McGreevey's e-mail purge
March 10, 2008: McGreevey era e-mails routinely destroyed
March 10, 2008: Open records law / Comply - or pay
March 4, 2008: Records council questions Fredon
February 26, 2008: Councilwoman’s Strategy for Open Government: Sue and Sue Again
February 21, 2008: Top Jersey court to decide how open public records are
February 20, 2008: Justices to hear suit on access to Hoboken records
February 12, 2008: Toll highway records must be open to public
February 10, 2008: Mason loses court case to get city records
January 25, 2008: E-mail use creates problems for public officials
January 25, 2008: Judge's ruling expected in sex harassment case
January 23, 2008: In search of local information and then banished to OPRA
January 16, 2008: Amended suit seeks to compel Atlantic City to turn over tax-appeal records
January 15, 2008: County right to put reports about restaurants online
January 4, 2008: Settlement hearings set in public-records-fees suit
January 4, 2008: Man sues W. Milford for cop's records
January 3, 2008: Hearings set for Somerset, Union counties OPRA class-action suits
January 3, 2008: Council closed session practices questioned
January 2, 2008: Chairman of NJ open records council stepping down
2007
December 29, 2007: Lawsuit may stop Vineland master plan - Alleges violations of open-meeting law
December 27, 2007: N.J.'s public-records law / Raise hell
December 26, 2007: OPRA leader charges critic
December 23, 2007: Open Public Records Act a step forward; next move is citizens' responsibility
December 22, 2007: Evesham video suit by ACLU not resolved
December 21, 2007: Open records or harassment?
December 20, 2007; Mayor: Police must disband or rebuild
December 17, 2007 Open access advocate never avoids a fight - Editorial
December 11, 2007: Court rules that Education Department must release memo
December 9, 2007: Hardyston man fighting for 'change'
November 27, 2007: Toll road study exempt from public records law
November 27, 2007: Evesham fights e-mail request
November 15, 2007: Adler Urges Legislative Ethics Committee to Open Up Records
November 11, 2007: Open records law makes salaries difficult to check
November 11, 2007: How we spent our summer (and more) getting payroll figures
October 26, 2007: Bay Head Council to change how it announces executive sessions
October 24, 2007: Official must think before they delete
October 23, 2007: Suit Tests Validity of Public Entities' Nondisclosure Pacts in Settlements
October 23, 2007: Limecrest still looking for more info. following release of contract
October 23, 2007: Local conflict, state crisis. Budget clash points to OPRA shortcomings
October 22, 2007: Libertarian takes on towns to keep government open
October 19, 2007: Open-government complaint filed against W'boro board
October 18, 2007: Activist can claim a victory (Editorial)
October 17, 2007: Mt. Arlington plans to review disclosure rules
October 16, 2007: Suit demands details of schools' deal
October 16, 2007: Council snubbed on financial data subpoena
October 15, 2007: Closed sessions under fire
October 12, 2007: Sparta ordered to make contract public
October 11, 2007: Open government scrutinized by Libertarians
October 5, 2007: Libertarian puts Mount Arlington on notice
October 4, 2007: OPRA needs an overhaul
October 3, 2007: Somerset watchdog continues vigilance
October 1, 2007: N.J. isn't done with open-government reform (Opinion column)
September 29, 2007: Lawsuit seeks look at toll road report
September 28, 2007: Council passes ordinance to change fee schedule for pets and records
September 27, 2007: Report says OPRA allows exemption of records
September 26, 2007: Report says New Jersey public records laws are weak
September 26, 2007: New Jersey Open Records Law called 'largely illusory'
September 20, 2007: Sea Girt alters closed session policy
September 20, 2007: Come clean on e-mails (Opinion column)
September 20, 2007: Suit claims township violated OPRA rules
September 19, 2007:Town caught violating Sunshine Law
September 11, 2007: Washington Township faces lawsuit over records
September 5, 2007: Sea Girt targeted for its closed session practices
September 3, 2007: State courts slow to put documents on Internet
August 23, 2007: Democracy at your fingertips
August 22, 2007: Gloucester Twp., Cherry Hill work to preserve records
August 18, 2007: Advocate questions the minutes from board
August 9, 2007: Board of Education, after 10 years, correctly advertises meetings
August 4, 2007: Judge Orders Corzine Mail Turned Over to the Court
August 2, 2007: Open access to documents worth the price (Opinion column)
August 1, 2007: Medford settles Open Public Meetings Act lawsuit
August 1, 1007: Records returned to West Amwell
July 22, 2007: Man didn't give up fight for release of records in Chester Twp., Jefferson
July 21, 2007: Pleasantville school board pays $1,100 for not providing public records
July 19, 2007: AP Newsbreak: New request for Corzine e-mails denied
July 15, 2007: E-mail ruling to shape future state conversation (Opinion)
July 14, 2007: N.J. treasury will release some asset sale documents
July 13, 2007: Justices rule out request for notes
July 12, 2007: Facing a Lawsuit, Corzine Swears Off E-mail
July 10, 2007: Suit accuses Medford of meetings violations
July 7, 2007: Officials still debating legislative exemption
July 6, 2007: Political operatives mine records to use in campaign
July 5, 2007: Central Jersey 'gadflies' call open records a vital tool
July 5, 2007: Law gives watchdogs expanded access
July 4, 2007: DEP faces bulk of records requests
June 22, 2007: County prosecutor will not act on Open Public Meetings Act complaints
June 18, 2007: Newspaper Wins Open-Records Fight
June 16, 2007: South Bound Brook official facing new OPRA complaint
June 15, 2007: Glassboro officials promise sunshine on gov't
June 14, 2007: Open Government Advocate to Speak
June 13, 2007: Critics have little recourse after freeholders' hire
June 9, 2007: Governor's e-mails to ex-girlfriend raise larger access issue
May 31, 2007: Records council slaps South Bound Brook clerk with $1K fine This marks the first time that the Government Records Council has fined anyone for non-compliance to a public records request. Here's hoping that it spurs NJ government staff to stop ignoring such requests!
May 2007: Man takes suit on open records to top N.J. court
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