Oklahoma blocks online access to public court documents

by Naomi P.

In related news, The First Amendment Center posted an AP report that the Oklahoma Supreme Court is banning or restricting access to public court records and documents that are available online, effective June 10, 2008.

The court’s rationale, as explained in a partial dissent by two of the justices, is that since not all Oklahoma counties have their documents online, no one should have access to the ones posted by the counties that do, until all counties are 'up to speed'.

Documents may still be obtained by going to the actual courthouses. However, personally identifiable and other information may be blacked out, in the interest of privacy issues, as required in the same ruling.