Visit attorney Jean Maneke’s website, click here to e-mail her or call her at (816) 753-9000 with your questions, or for help on legal matters. Consultation is free to active members, and Jean is always eager to help.
Jean’s Column Archive
October 2023 – Open, and increasingly shut, records
September 2023 – Prepare yourself for when law enforcement comes knocking
August 2023 – Use this off-year to refamiliarize yourself with ethics of advertising
July 2023 – The opening up of Case.net could introduce new frustrations
June 2023 – U.S. Supreme Court decisions boost ‘Section 230’ foundation for online publishers
May 2023 – Encourage local government attorneys to get Sunshine educated
April 2023 – Casenet accessibility brings questions about case closures
March 2023 – Marijuana advertising brings news risks, rewards
February 2023 – Different ways the public can review the people’s business
January 2023 – Your voice is needed to oppose efforts to dim Sunshine
December 2022 – Sunshine Law for thee, not for me
November 2022 – The fight for public notices is never-ending
October 2022 – Voting and the media: Elements of a healthy democracy
September 2022 – What about the data police cameras collect
August 2022 – Case.net is going to get a lot more accessible
July 2022 – Publishing public records and the right to privacy
June 2022 – Don’t be resigned to public bodies accepting resignations in closed session
May 2022 – Proposed law would ‘SLAPP’ libel plaintiffs
April 2022 – The politics (and legal expectations) of political advertising
March 2022 – Every publisher contributes to the foundation of press freedom
February 2022 – Sunshine Law changes could alter how history’s first draft is written
January 2022 – Coroner’s inquests, online decency and Twitter: Key issues from 2021
December 2021 – Take time in 2022 to build up relationships with your courts
November 2021 – When it comes to marijuana ads, media has protections
October 2021 – Make sure your documents are recorded by the book
September 2021 – Show-Me the beef and how it’s processed
August 2021 – The taxman’s notices cometh
July 2021 – The ongoing case for remote access to Case.net
June 2021 – On the public funding of ‘government speech’
May 2021 – When the historical record and takedown requests collide
April 2021 – Determining the privacy of a public figure’s tweets
March 2021 – Unpublishing requests gaining new legs around the country
February 2021 – Technology’s role in governing continues to raise questions about transparency
January 2021 – Your readers should know they also benefit from Section 230
December 2020 – Missouri Supreme Court case could clarify Sunshine Law ‘research’ costs
November 2020 – Explain to your readers why due diligence matters
October 2020 – Use election season to remind politicians of your priorities
September 2020 – Appeal to the ‘need to know’ when requesting COVID info
August 2020 – Paper or digital: An important Sunshine distinction
July 2020 – Coronavirus’ effects on courts linger, even with return to ‘normal’
June 2020 – A potpourri about data access
May 2020 – A new meaning for cameras in the courtroom
April 2020 – ‘Public’ meetings may be going electronic, but you still have access
March 2020 – Know how proposed legislation will affect your work
February 2020 – You have power to file Sunshine Law complaints
January 2020 – Expect new challenges for MPA in 2020
December 2019 – Juvenile records still limited under Sunshine Law
November 2019 – Work together to identify, fix problems
October 2019 – Getting into the weeds of marijuana advertising
September 2019 – Sunshine needs changed for digital shade
August 2019 – Advertising firearm sales is allowed, but publish what you are comfortable
July 2019 – Do your research before covering courts
June 2019 – Without a proper shield law, Missouri journalists need to protect themselves
May 2019 – Splintered Sunshine is not good for Missouri
April 2019 – Missourians support ethics regulations in politics but will the courts?
March 2019 – Good communities need informed citizens
February 2019 – Changes to the Sunshine Law could cripple reporters
January 2019 – Making the public’s information less public
December 2018 – Think the best, but prepare your office for the worst
November 2018 – Legal notices get your readers talking (with you and each other)
October 2018 – The more things change, the more they stay the same
September 2018 – The permanency of a newspaper’s electronic archives
August 2018 – How well does your insurance protect you?
July 2018 – Public officials can still too easily avoid the Sunshine
June 2018 – More changes for court camera rules
May 2018 – State courts need to reconsider public’s access to documents
April 2018 – Changes coming for cameras in courts
March 2018 – Closed coroner’s reports only make people think the worst
February 2018 – Bill could offer needed Sunshine Law changes
January 2018 – The curious case of the disappearing texts
December 2017 – Expect takedown requests in 2018
November 2017 – Sunshine should clarify use of private email
Octoober 2017 – In matters of public record law
September 2017 – Protect yourself when reporting on leaks
August 2017 – Delivery charges not subject to sales, use tax
July 2017 – Sunshine Law still applies as tech changes
June 2017 – Protecting the public’s right to know
May 2017 – Government transparency, even in death
April 2017 – Potential changes in store for liquor advertising laws
March 2017 – The legal costs for Sunshine requests
February 2017 – New year brings important digital housekeeping tasks
January 2017 – Knowing the teeth of the Sunshine Law
December 2016 – Why do public bodies violate the Sunshine Law?
November 2016 – The fine line between rights and privacy
October 2016 – The Sun shines on all in Missouri, but not always equally
September 2016 – Political reminder: Properly publish ‘paid for’ postscripts
August 2016 – Knowing the Sunshine Law and recording public meetings
July 2016 – Missouri Press’ grab bag of legal issues
June 2016 – Bodycam law will allow eventual public access to videos
May 2016 – Lawsuit against blog could affect newspaper websites
April 2016 – House Bill 1993 would add to Missouri’s Sunshine Law
March 2016 – Police body cam footage has place as a public record
February 2016 – Sunshine Law key to keeping government accountable
January 2016 – Sunshine case improves rights of records
December 2015 – Workers’ comp won’t cover contract carriers
November 2015 – Witness for the prosecution?
October 2015 – Partnership for Sunshine: ‘What Works City’
September 2015 – Consider economic realities, delivery speed
August 2015 – A refresher course in law and ethics
July 2015 – To redact or not to redact …
June 2015 – Police video access is a ‘win-win’
May 2015 – Sunshine means partly cloudy to some
April 2015 – A ‘Sunshine Hero’ is remembered
March 2015 – What’s in your wallet should not limit access to records
February 2015 – Making a difference at the state capitol
January 2015 – Tap county records for new subscribers
December 2014 – Same-sex announcements: not ‘if’ but ‘when’
November 2014 – Courtroom media access needs revision
October 2014 – Court issues public hearing decision
September 2014 – First Amendment fallout in Ferguson
August 2014 – Whats ‘fair’ in ‘fair use?
July 2014 – Privacy: a balancing act
June 2014 – Is government transparency on Death Row
May 2014- Can a judge remove case records before a trial
April 2014 – How does copyright law affect content on Facebook.pdf
March 2014- You can set requirments for advertising in your paper
February 2014 – Time to talk with legislators about rules on using drones
January 2014 – Court rules closed records might also be open records
December 2013 – Court recognizes role of notices in newspapers
November 2013 – Treat public notices (legals) with respect they deserve
October 2013 – Thanks for helping fight override of SB 436 veto
September 2013 – Decide now how to react if HB 436 veto overridden
August 2013 – Government intrusion points to need for shield
July 2013 – Bill on governor’s desk patently unconstitutional
June 2013 – How much privacy can we expect in age of Internet?
May 2013 – Missouri Lawyers Media wins open hearing ruling
April 2013 –Ask Legislators for support of Sunshine Law changes
March 2013- Sweepstakes OK if you remove 1 of 3 elements
February 2013 –‘Legal notice’ has no definition in statutes
January 2013- ‘Critical incident’ response guidelines may be closed
December 2012 – Required office posters available free online
November 2012 – Ads your papers creates are copyrighted, too!
October 2012 – “Missouri Plan” works
September 2012 – Statutes govern notices of election in counties
August 2012 –Post-Dispatch gets pay record from city office
July 2012 –Getting permission will keep you out of trouble
June 2012 –Get lawyers to pay for legal notices they place
May 2012 –Ad reps play “stamp the lawyer” at their meetings
April 2012 – Audits reveal wholesale flouting of sunshine law
March 2012 – Development authorities should do business openly
February 2012 – Investigators need licenses; are journalists investigators?
January 2012 – Remember ‘Superbowl’ is registered trademark
December 2011 – Can privacy withstand assault of technology?
November 2011 – Court rule, rulins differ on openness of warrants
October 2011 – Closed meeting notice needs specific reason
September 2011 –Housing ad guidelines will be in the next bulletin
August 2011 –Reporters’ tweets give instant narrative of trial
July 2011 – Check your political ad attribution policy now!
June 2011 – Just to read a record shouldn’t cost money
May 2011 – Should state decide who are journalists?
April 2011 –Protect yourself from copyright allegations
March 2011 –Audit reports may get law enforcement help
February 2011 –Blogs, Facebook pages have potential for libel
January 2011 – Closing public meeting requires specific reason
December 2010 – You need not expunge archived crime reports
November 2010 – Closed meeting notice needs specific reason
October 2010 – Courts rule on website, open meeting lawsuits
September 2010 – You are protected from defamatory web posts
August 2010 – Electronic public records caught in technical limbo
July 2010 – State courts working on electronic access system
June 2010 – Audit shows frequent Sunshine Law violations
May 2010 – Case.net files should offer all information
April 2010 – Streaming video from Missouri’s high court
March 2010 – Kansas case shows need for Shield Law
February 2010 – Divorce files closed until final dissolution
January 2010 – Let your voice be heard on how money is spent
December 2009 –
November 2009 – Be ever vigilant about ads in your newspaper
October 2009 – Court decision could delay records request
September 2009 – Learn phrase ‘This is a Sunshine Law request.’
August 2009 – Attorney General sues district over openness
July 2009 – Editors reports local police restrict access to records
June 2009 – Rep. Jones’ Sunshine Bill efforts much appreciated
May 2009 – Sunshine Bill still alive, legislator records exempt
April 2009 – Sunshine Law bill need your calls to legislators
March 2009 – Koster plans extensive Sunshine Law training
February 2009 – Work rules changes you need to know
January 2009 – Record retention rules should be part of law
December 2008 – Internet is a great tool, but it raises questions
November 2008 – Judges don’t like defendant secrecy
October 2008 – Attribution required on all campaign ads
September 2008 – You’ll have to answer questions about ethics
August 2008 – We have allies in fight for open government
July 2008 – Election season brings advertising questions
June 2008 – Politics trump need in Missouri Legislature
May 2008 – Sunshine Law is not unduly burdensome
April 2008 – What Newspapers print can still result in change
March 2008 – Many bills filed relate to open records, meetings
February 2008 – Dear new UM president: Please keep system open
January 2008 – Google, states working to ease records search
December 2007 – Sunshine Law gets an ‘F’ in ranking of all states
November 2007 – Exciting to see Federal Shield Law progressing
October 2007 – Sunshine Law getting more action than ever
September 2007 – Can City fire employee who said it broke law?
August 2007 – Newspaper writers can hurt our openness effort
July 2007- Federal Law may extend shield to some bloggers
June 2007- Advertising Q&A
May 2007- Housing act violations can be very expensive
April 2007- News stories about bingo, raffles are OK
March 2007- Probes of law officers must be open records
February 2007- Shield Law bill again filed in state Senate
January 2007- Proposed shield law not absolute privilege
December 2006- What level of cost ends access to public records?
November 2006- Government openness lost champion in August
October 2006- Know Political Disclaimer rules
September 2006- Directed verdict in libel suit
August 2006- Law officers in control at emergency scene
July 2006 – Candidates in same group get equal ad rates
June 2006- Court opinions offers some interesting ideas
May 2006- Ohio HIPAA ruling may help emergency news
April 2006- Shield Law bill hits wall
March 2006- AG wrong about county committees
February 2006- Beware of selling reprints of news pictures
January 2006 – Political committees subject to Sunshine Law
December 2005- Supreme Court could get two “openness” cases
November 2005 – Tips to avoid being sued to libel
October 2005- Check work comp rules to see if you are covered
September 2005- Get required work posters free from government
August 2005- Reporters need secret source privilege
July 2005- Shield Law discussion is national
June 2005- Reporter privilege rights still changing
May 2005- Blogging, Newsmasters, and New Journalism
April 2005- Juvenile court rules change
February 2005- Sunshine defines public body
January 2005- Housing Ad Questions
December 2004- Time to retrain your Notary
November 2004- Update your Archives
October 2004- E-Mail and The Sunshine Law
September 2004- Access must be given to online meetings
August 2004- Overtime rules in the newsroom
July 2004 – Two-tiered penalties in Sunshine Law
June 2004- Access to records had a bad month
May 2004- Paper may need broker’s license
April 2004- Papers need to sue to make sun shine
March 2004- Recent rulings keep courts open
February 2004- Four opinions in 2003 provide guidance
January 2004- Publications reveal attitude on openness
December 2003- Officials leery of on-line records
November 2003- ‘Fair use’ rule applies to ‘news’ photographs
October 2003- Keep 2 basics in mind with ‘Do Not Call’ law
September 2003- Board members clash over secrecy of records
August 2003- Group using Internet to skirt Sunshine Law
July 2003- Understanding a paper’s legal status
June 2003- Reviewing basics of Sunshine Law
May 2003- Libel plaintiff must show actual damage
April 2003- Juvenile court secrecy getting high attention
March 2003- Custodian of records needs to get request
February 2003- Put copyright notice in all ads you create
January 2003- Ethics Commission decisions available
April 2002 – Subtle lessons from Sept. 11
October 2001 – Our Freedom may be a casualty
Enforcing the Sunshine Law
Recent exceptions to the Sunshine Law