SC FOIA: Score one for us

After the recent freedom of information setbacks in South Carolina, media lawyer Jay Bender points out a new state Supreme Court ruling that puts some teeth into the law's 15-day rule and gives us a tool to at least force agencies to make a quick determination on whether records are open.

The records still do not have to be produced within 15 days, but by requiring a final determination, it opens the route to be able to quickly move to the courts to adjudicate any adverse agency opinions that records are not open. (And it opens the possibility of attorney's fees.)

But then, sigh, there's this little dodge to openness proposed by S.C. State's board chairman.