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The FOI Advocate is a compendium of ideas, edited story excerpts and other materials from a variety of Web sites, as well as original concepts and analysis. When the information comes directly from another source, it will be attributed and a link will be provided whenever possible. The blog relies on the accuracy and integrity of the original sources cited. We will correct errors and inaccuracies when we become aware of them.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Georgia State Law Professor Criticizes Proposed Legislation as "Haphazard"

Georgia State University law professor Jessica D. Gabel makes a cogent argument that the Florida legislature's efforts to pass the Meredith Emerson Privacy Act is short-sighted and misses the mark.

The bill would remedy the release of disturbing crime scene photos of the woman who was brutally killed while hiking with her dog in North Georgia in 2008. A true-crime reporter hired by Hustler magazine requested the photos of Emerson's nude and decapitated body.

Instead of expanding exemptions to Georgia's public records laws or enlarging the state's obscenity laws, Gabel suggests the Legislature consider a stand-alone law that prevents "the malicious, gratuitous or unethical use of such photos." The law professor continues, "Darkening Georgia's sunshine laws is a sacrifice, not the solution."

Read more here.

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