The Missouri Attorney General shall, in the Missouri Revised Statutes:
27.040. Opinions to be given, when. — When required, he shall give his opinion, in writing, without fee, to the general assembly, or to either house, and to the governor, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, commissioner of education, grain warehouse commissioner, director of the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration, the director of the division of finance, and the head of any state department, or any circuit or prosecuting attorney upon any question of law relative to their respective offices or the discharge of their duties.
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(1974) Opinions of the attorney general are entitled to no more weight than that given the opinion of any other competent attorney. Gershman Investment Corp. v. Danforth (Mo.), 517 S.W.2d 33.
27.070. Shall file and index opinions. — The attorney general shall keep in his office and provide for his official use, and that of his successors, indexed copies of all opinions delivered by him during his term.
State Auditor Nicole Galloway (D) [2018 file photo].
Today, from State Auditor Nicole Galloway (D):
Statement from Auditor Galloway on request for Attorney General Opinion on Sunshine Law exceptions
May 7, 2019
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo (May 7, 2019) — Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway today released a statement after formally requesting a legal opinion from the Attorney General on the appropriateness of Sunshine Law exemptions, as claimed by Gov. Parson’s office. Recent media reports revealed that Gov. Parson’s office failed to disclose information in response to Sunshine Law requests, citing the First Amendment. Auditor Galloway’s request asks whether it is appropriate to redact information related to individuals conducting business with, lobbying or attempting to influence a government entity.
“Government should not be in the business of finding ways to hide information from taxpayers, but time and again, we have seen continued efforts to do just that. Most recently, reports revealed Governor Parson’s office used the First Amendment to withhold information requested under the Sunshine Law. This is why I have requested clarification from the Attorney General as to whether these actions were lawful. There should be no confusion on how the Sunshine Law is applied.”
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Form to Request Attorney General Opinions [pdf]
1. Information about requestor:
Name: State Auditor Nicole Galloway
Address: PO Box 869
Jefferson City, Mo 65102
Phone: 573-751-4213
Date Request Made: May 7, 2019
2. Official capacity of requestor (See Section 27.040, RSMo):
Section 27.040, RSMo, provides (in part), “When required, he shall give his opinion, in writing, without fee, to the . . . auditor . . . upon any question of law relative to their respective offices or the discharge of their duties.”
As the duly elected State Auditor, charged with auditing state and local government entities, as provided by Missouri Constitution, Article IV, Section 13, and Chapter 29, RSMo, I request that the Attorney General issue this opinion.
3. The question of LAW upon which I request your legal opinion is as follows: (Note: Make certain the phrasing of the question is complete and clearly stated because only this question will be considered for an official opinion.)
In responding to Sunshine Requests, the State Auditor’s Office does not redact any identifying information related to an individual who is conducting or seeking to conduct business before the entity, advocating on behalf of a third party or lobbying that entity, or otherwise attempting to influence or advise on any action taken by the government entity based on an exception found in the First Amendment. Should a Missouri government entity, such as the State Auditor’s Office, assert that the First Amendment of the US Constitution provides an exception to the Sunshine Law such that it can redact, any or possibly all, identifying information related to an individual who is conducting or seeking to conduct business before the entity,
advocating on behalf of a third party or lobbying that entity, or otherwise attempting to influence or advise on any action taken by the government entity?
4. A complete statement of the FACTS giving rise to this question is as follows: (Note: If all facts are not furnished which this office needs to respond to this question, it may be rejected as an incomplete request which this office cannot answer.)
The question presented is one of a predominantly legal nature. The State Auditor’s Office does not, and has not, closed information based on an exception to the Sunshine Law found in the First Amendment. In Missouri Law, there is not a specifically enumerated exception in the Missouri Revised Statues that would permit the office to close or redact information under the First Amendment. Additionally, there is no exception imposed by any judge in Missouri caselaw that would permit such an exception solely on First Amendment grounds.
This question nonetheless arises because a Missouri state government entity has asserted that the First Amendment in and of itself requires redaction of information, effectively rendering the Missouri Sunshine Law, and the state’s public policy that records of governmental entities be open to the public, unconstitutional.
This government entity appears to redact information that identifies information related to individuals conducting or seeking to conduct business before the entity, lobbying that entity, or otherwise attempting to influence any action taken by the government entity, claiming that the First Amendment protects this information. Essentially, this government entity asserts that individuals attempting to influence actions taken by the government would not do so without fear of retribution were it to provide in a Sunshine request response identifying information that the individuals voluntarily gave. This position provides greater protections to those lobbying or conducting business with the government entity than is given to individuals who are referenced in arrest and incident report records. See Sections 610.100 to 610.150, RSMo (providing that incident reports and arrest records are open records). While this office does not believe that the
First Amendment exception is a valid exception under Missouri law, it requests the opinion of the Attorney General to ensure that it is properly complying with the law.
5. List each and every governmental entity involved in this request:
The Missouri State Auditor’s office as a public governmental body under Missouri law, and as the executive office whose primary duty is to audit state and local government entities.
6. Which of the entities listed in response to Question 5 have attorneys paid with public funds? For each entity listed, attach a copy of the written legal opinion of each such attorney on the question involved herein. (Note for prosecuting attorneys: Also attach a copy of your legal opinion giving Missouri statutes, significant Missouri appellate decisions and your conclusions drawn therefrom.)
Missouri State Auditor’s Office. See attached legal opinion.
7. State in detail how the question of law relates to your official position or to the discharge of your duties.
The Auditor’s Office, as the executive office whose primary duty is to audit state and local government entities. requests this opinion as an entity subject to the Sunshine Law.
8. Is any litigation pending involving the issues raised in your opinion request?
None are known to date.
9. If the answer to Question 8 is “yes” list the name of case, court in which it is pending and docket number of case:
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Well?
Governor Mike Parson (r) [2018 file photo].
Previously:
Gov. Mike Parson (r): Sunshine Law? What? (April 26, 2019)
