Atlanta Journal v. Babush

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Atlanta Journal vs. Babush Number: 257 Ga. 790 Year: 1988 State: Georgia Court: {{{Court}}} Other lawsuits in Georgia Other lawsuits in 1988 Precedents include:

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Deliberative Process Exemption

Atlanta Journal v. Babush was a case before the Georgia Supreme Court in 1988 concerning open meetings laws.

Background

Atlanta Journal v. Babush, 257 Ga. 790 (1988) (Gregory, J.): Suits before Judge Tillman by both The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and The Attorney General challenging the closure of a State Personnel Board Meeting at which the Board heard oral argument concerning the demotion and relocation Public Safety employee Richard Coleman on grounds that he had endorsed ticket-fixing by members of the State Patrol. The Court held that the meeting was exempted from the Open Meeting Act's requirements by the Act's personnel exclusion, noting "we must recognize the exclusion whether or not we think it is a good idea." Justice Weltner dissented, arguing that because the Act must be construed broadly, its exceptions must be construed narrowly, and so construed it did not exclude the meeting under review. He stated, "[w]hile this court has the power to define away any or all of the rights granted to our citizens by the General Assembly, our duty ought to lead us in other directions."