On November 6 the Supreme Judicial Court passed on an opportunity to rule on the extent to which the state court system is subject to the public records laws https://www.mass.gov/service-details/massachusetts-law-about-freedom-of-information-and-public-records. The Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights and Economic Justice had sued for access to the Trial Court’s records about hiring practices for security staff. The Trial Court turned over the records before the case went forward. The SJC ruled that action made this particular case moot but left open the possibility that they could rule on a future dispute over court records.

Here are links to the Boston Globe story and the slip opinion.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/11/07/sjc-declines-rule-whether-trial-court-documents-are-covered-public-records-law/0QOqS9mt3KVSX8FaXkrADP/story.html

http://www.socialaw.com/services/slip-opinions/slip-opinion-details/lawyers'-committee-for-civil-rights-and-economic-justice-vs.-court-administrator-of-the-trial-court-others.-1

Coincidentally a  brand new book arrived this week on the subject.

Public Records and Open Meeting Law

http://encore.socialaw.com/iii/encore/record/C__Rb1145122